BIKDS OF THE TRES MARIAS ISLANDS. 



41 



shorter tarsus. Averages of 9 specimens from the islauds (both sexes) : 

 Wing, 2:5.3.3 ; tail, 133.6; culmeii, 34.3; tarsus, 24.7. Averages of 7 

 specimeus from both coasts of tlie mainland (both sexes) : Wing, 222.5; 

 tail, 120.1; culmen, 34.4; tarsus, 24.5. 



Some old residents on Maria Madre reported that they had occa- 

 sionally seen stray individuals of another parrot whicli was a little 

 smaller than the yellow head, probably Amnzona Jinschi, which is 

 abundant on the mainland. 



Psittacula insularis Ridgway. Tres Marias Lovebird. 



VsiUacuJa cijanopyga Grayson, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., XIV, p. 271. 1871; 



Lawr., Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., II, p. 297, 1874 (part). 

 Psittacula insularis Ridgway, Proc. U. S. Nat. Museum, X, 1887, p. .541 (Aug. 1888j. 

 Psittacula cyanopngia Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XX, p. 249, 1891 (part). 



Lovebirds, or 'catarinas,' as they are called by the Mexicans, are 

 common on 3Iaria Madre and Maria Magdalena, and probably occur on 

 Maria Cleofa, although none were seen on the latter island. They 

 were usually seen in flocks, from a few pairs up to 30 or 40 individuals, 

 and in May were feeding on small, sweet, wild figs, common on the lower 

 slojies. While feeding they keep up a constant chattering, which noti- 

 fies one of their ])reseiice. When flying over the top of tlie forest they 

 keej) in compa( t flocks and move steadily forward with rajiid wing 

 beats, suggesting a flock of cedar birds. They are very gentle, affec- 

 tionate little creatures and quickly become tame and greatly attachetl 

 to their owners. 



Salvadori considers PsHiacida insularis a synonym of P. cyanoiniga. 

 The series of eight adults from the islauds and seven from the main- 

 land show that the island birds can be readily distinguished. The 

 two series show no signs of intergradation in color, and tiieir specific 

 distinctness is well defined, although the average measurements show 

 but slight differences in size. 



Desciiplion of Psittacula insularis, i ad., 

 Maria Madre, May, 1S97 : 



Checks, lores, forehead, and crown, 

 back to line betweeu orbits, rich green, 

 decidedly clearer than 111 cyanopyga, and 

 much more sharply contrasted with sur- 

 rounilmg colors. 



Middle of crown greeu^ shading 

 abruptly into dull bluish green, which 

 extends thence over neck, middle of back, 

 scapulars, tertials, and lesser wing 

 coverts. 



Rump patch, axillars, and greater wing 

 coverts vivid cobalt blue. 



Upper tail coverts brighter green than 

 middle of back, but darker than in 

 cyanopy(ja. 



Upper surface of tail dark green, darker 

 than in cyanopyya. 



Description of Psittacula cyanopyga, ^ ad., 

 Tepic, Mexico, April, 1S97 : 



Cheeks, lores, and forehead bright 

 green, more yellowish than in insularis, 

 and shading gradually into siirrouuding 

 colors. 



Crown, from between orbits, neck, mid- 

 dle of back, sca])ulars, tertials, and 

 lesser wing coverts, dark green without 

 bluish. 



Rump patch, axillars, .and greater wing 

 coverts bright tur(|iioise blue. 



Upper tail coverts clearer green than 

 back. 



Upper surface of tail rich green. 



