^°9of^] Clark, B/acA--tv///^ed P(i/)i! T<i?iao-cr. z|.OI 



There seems to be no constant variation in color; but this 

 character is uncertain in these birds, and differences are to be 

 met with in specimens from the same locaHty. The violet gloss 

 is the most noticeable feature. This gloss is, however, mainly 

 confined to the distal portion of the feather, and seems to undergo 

 considerable diminution, often a month before the feathers are 

 renewed again. Even in fresh specimens from the same place 

 the difference is considerable, some, apparently adult, having 

 almost none, while others have it very strongly marked. 



From the data just given, it appears that, as would be expected, 

 the largest specimen come from the high mountains of Peru. 

 Here doubtless food is comparatively scarce, and a bird must 

 cover a considerable area in order to obtain a sufficient supply. 

 Size, therefore, is a distinct advantage. The lower Amazons sup- 

 ports a small race. Food here is abundant, and so natural selec- 

 tion is not called upon so urgently to weed out the smaller and 

 weaker individuals. The race is small at Panama for the same 

 reason ; while mountainous Costa Rica, Santa Marta, Yacura, and 

 Margarita are inhabited by larger birds. Very likely the birds on 

 Trinidad are stragglers from the rough and barren Venezuelan 

 shore, where the small ones have been eliminated. 



The series examined contains two interesting specimens. One 

 has a peculiarly long and narrow bill, but is otherwise apparently 

 normal. Tliis bird, a male, was taken on Margarita Island, and 

 was noticed in ' The Auk ' for July, 1902, p. 266. 



The other is a partial albino. It is a young male \ and was 

 taken at Loma del Leon, Panama, on March 3, 1900. The left 

 wing has the proximal secondary attenuated, short, and with its 

 basal and central portions white. The next secondary is normal ; 

 but the third has a large white distal patch, extending inwards 

 15 mm. from the tip of the feather. The patch is central in posi- 

 tion, and does not reach the border on either side. From the 

 appearance of both these feathers the condition may be patho- 

 logical. 



The Black-winged Palm Tanager is very common on the island 

 of Trinidad, where it can be seen at almost any time about the 



' Collection of E. A. and O. Bangs, No. 7467. 



