from the Northern Bahamas. 285 



21. Geothlypis tanneri (Ridgw.). 

 Geothlypis tanneri Ridgw. Auk, iii. p. 335 (1880). 

 Geothlypis rostrata tanneri Ridgw.; Cory, Cat. W. I. Bds. 

 p. 119 (1892). 



2 S • Little Abaco, 22nd & 28th March, 1902. 



? . „ „ 30th March. 



I place my specimens provisionally under this name, 

 though I must confess my inability to recognise any sub- 

 specific differences between G. tanneri and G. rostrata. 



There are three points in which the former may be said 

 to differ slightly from G. rostrata : — 



(i.) There is less ashy behind the mask on the top of 

 the head. 



(ii.) The ashy behind the mask over the ears has an 

 almost imperceptible yellowish tinge. 



(iii.) The olive on the flanks is of a rather browner 

 shade. 

 Possibly, however, the birds I got on Little Abaco do not 

 belong to G. tanneri of Ridgway, as they differ from the 

 description as given by Cory, viz. : — 



(a) " The yellow posterior border to the mask paler, 

 and changing to yellowish grey across the crown. " 

 In my specimens there is a slight yellowish tinge on the 

 broadest part of the light area behind the mask, but no trace 

 of yellow whatever on the crown. 



(/3) In describing G. coryi, with which G. tanneri is 



compared, Cory says, " lower parts, including flanks, 



entirely rich gamboge-yellow " ; and for G. tanneri he 



merely adds, " yellow of lower parts less intense/'' 



In my specimens the yellow is of exactly the same shade 



as in G. rostrata and is rather lemon-yellow than rich 



gamboge, and further the flanks are brownish olive, which 



colour greatly encroaches on the yellow of the lower breast 



and abdomen. It seems to me most unlikely that both 



G. rostrata and G. tanneri should occur on Abaco ; but my 



material being scanty I place these specimens provisionally 



under the latter name, though my impression at the moment 



is that G. tanneri is not a good species. 



It is evident that much still remains to be learnt regarding 



