BIRDS OF THE WEST INDIES, 153 
Birds from the Bahama Islands, Grand Cayman, and Cuba, are generally 
recognized as asubspecies. V. calidris barbatulus (Cab.). This form has the head 
more ashy than the caddris, but not so dark as barbadense; the back grayish olive, 
and the superciliary line whitish, which in caédrzs proper is buff. 
Several years ago, two or three Boston collectors were in the habit of using a 
composition for the preservation of skins, composed of borax, alum, and some other 
ingredients (which I do not know), instead of arsenic. The effect of this composition 
on the color of the plumage in some species of birds was quite marked, and in a 
number of specimens of V’zrco cafidris in my collection, prepared with this prepara- 
tion, the colors have been decidedly changed, so that they are useless for purposes of 
comparison. Vzreo calidris (Linn.). Gadow., Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VIII., p. 
293, 1883. Salvin and Godman, Biol. Centr. Americana, Vol. I., p. 186, 1879-87. 
Cory, Birds of the West Indies, p. 76, 1889. 
Vireosylvia calidris, var. dominicana Lawr, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. I. p. 55, 
139. Vireo calidris barbadense Ridgw. (Type from Barbados.) History 
North Amer. Birds, Vol. I., p. 359, 1874. 
140. Vireo caymanensts Cory. Auk, p. 6, 1887. Id., Birds of the West 
Indies, p. 288, 1889. 
141. Vireo crassirostris and Vireo crassirostris allent. Both gray and 
yellow birds occur throughout the Bahama Islands, but only the yellow form has as 
yet been taken in Grand Cayman. The old Providence species V. approximans is 
similar to V. adlenz; but has the bill always pale, not dark brown as in adlenz. 
The distribution of the two races according to the specimens I have examined is as 
follows : — 
Great Bahama. Jl. crasscrostris, some inclining towards allenz. 
Abaco. V. crassirostris, some inclining towards adlent. 
Berry Island. V. crasstrostris and allen and intermediate specimens. 
Biminis. Vl. crasstirostris and allent. 
Eleuthera. V. crassirostris, intermediate specimens, and adlent. 
New Providence. Il. crasstvostris, one intermediate. 
Andros. Intermediate, but inclining towards aleve. 
Rum Cay. V. allend and intermediate specimens. 
Conception. V. allenz. 
Cat Island. V. crasszrostris and intermediate. 
