426 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



web, and on the outer reduced to a narrow border. C. cciboti from Cozuniel, 

 near the eastern coast of Yucatan, exhibits the Continental impress in pos- 

 sessing the character last mentioned. 



In all the species from the Greater Antilles and the portion of Continen- 

 tal America west and directly south 

 of this group, there is a distinct ex- 

 ternal white patch at base of quills ; 

 M'liile this disappears in the species of 

 the Lesser Antilles and eastern South 

 America, or is only faintly traceable. 

 Agaii], in the species of the Lesser 

 Antilles, with the disappearance of the 

 white wing-patch, the greater and mid- 



Cert/iiola flaveola. n • i i r • , ^ ■ f 



cue wmg-coverts show a lanit edging or 

 lighter, by which, as well as by the darker back, they are distinguished from 

 their South American allies. 



Tlie shape of the white patcli at base of the quills on the outer web fur- 

 nishes, in combination with the color of the throat, excellent and permanent 

 specific characters. This in tlie Jamaican, Haytien, and Bahaman forms is 

 elongated, extending gradually and uniformly behind to the outer edge of 

 the quill, while in those of Porto Eico, St. Thomas, Cozumel, and the South 

 American species, where it exists, the posterior outline is nearly transverse, 

 and only running out a little along outer web. 



As a general rule Soutli American species have shorter tails than the 

 West Indian. 



It is a nice qiiestion what are really species in this genus, and what merely 

 races or varieties ; but it would probably be not far from correct to assume 

 that the various forms described are simply modifications of one prindtive 

 species, produced by geographical distribution and external physical condi- 

 tions. In the following diagnosis I shall treat all the varieties as occupying 

 the same rank, without attempting any discrimination. Although but one 

 of these belongs to the United States, and that as a straggler from the Baha- 

 mas, I give the table of the whole, to show the interesting relationship be- 

 tween them. 



Common Characters. Above dusky-olive or blackish ; the rump olivaceous or 

 yellowish : the head and cheeks always black, and sometimes darker than back. 

 Chin and throat ashy or black. Rest of under part yellow, duller behind. A 

 broad white stripe from bill above eye to nape, A white patch at base of pri- 

 maries ; generally visible externally, sometimes concealed. Lateral tail-feathers 

 tipped with white. Bill black ; legs dusky. 



A. Head uniform in color with rest of upper parts ; dark sooty-brown or blackish. 

 Both webs of outer tail-feather tipped Avith white (except in hdevki). All West 

 Indian except luteola, which, however, occurs in Tobago and Trinidad, and gen- 

 erally belongs to the shores of the Carribean Sea. 



1. A distinct and conspicuous external white patch at base of primaries. 



Wing-coverts not margined with paler. 



J 



