Vol. XX II J Riley, Birds of Bahama Islands. 359 



65. Geothlypis incompta Ridgxvay. Lesser Abaco Yellow-throat. 

 — A male taken on Abaco, July 22, in worn plumage, while paler both 

 above and below than any specimen of incompta available for comparison 

 comes nearer to this than it does to t aimer i. 



During the four hours we spent on Abaco, we took two male yellow- 

 throats and saw a female we did not succeed in shooting. This would 

 indicate that they are not uncommon on the island. Both this and the 

 above species were taken in the same character of country, namely heavy 

 pine forest with Pteris fern brake beneath. The specimen of tanneri 

 taken was singing a song somewhat resembling the well-known notes of 

 G. trichas but probably with more force. It was easily 'squeaked up,' 

 coming almost too close to shoot even with a light load in an insertion 

 barrel, but backing off is out of the question in a rocky fern brake full of 

 holes and crevices. 



66. Ccereba bahamensis (Reich.). Bahama Bananaquit. — Abundant 

 on New Providence, Andros, Eleuthera, Cat Island, Rum Cay, Watlings 

 Island, Long Island, and Abaco. One of the first birds to respond to 

 squeaking. They seemed to be very industrious in searching the trees, 

 presumably for insects, crawling up and down like Mniotilta varia ; 

 indeed, their actions are very warbler-like. Their song is a weak little 

 warbler-like trill. Several dome-shaped nests that we took to belong to 

 this species were found but none contained eggs. Young in all stages 

 of plumage were seen, indicating that the nesting season for them was 

 apparently over. The skin at the angle of the commissure is coral pink 

 in life. 



67. Agelaius phceniceus bryanti Ridgtvay. Bahama Redwing. — A 

 few pairs were found around Lake Kilarney and a small mangrove swamp 

 on the western end of New Providence. Two nests, like the nests of the 

 common Redwing, were found in the latter situation, June 24. The nests 

 were in small mangrove bushes, about four feet from the ground, and 

 contained three young and three eggs respectively. The eggs do not 

 differ materially from eggs of A. phceniceus and measure 23 by 17.5, 23.2 

 by 17.7, and 22.2 by 17 mm. A few pairs were seen on Grassy Creek, 

 Andros, and a few pairs around a small mangrove swamp on Abaco. 



Our New Providence specimens seem to be slightly darker than our 

 Abaco (the type locality of bryanti) birds, but our series from either 

 island is too small to be of any importance. 



68. Spindalis zena (Linn.). Black-backed Spindalis. Very com- 

 mon on New Providence and Long Island. They could often be seen on 

 New Providence floating over the low scrubby growth and singing on the 

 wing, though their song is generally delivered whilst perched, and I 

 suppose the aerial evolution is only resorted to when their nuptial pas- 

 sions can no longer be restrained. The song is a weak little trill and does 

 not take high rank as a musical performance. I came upon four or five 

 of these birds one day feeding greedily upon the ripe fruit of the sapo- 

 dilla. 



