238 Todd, Bahaman Species of Geothlypis. LApril 



by I have been able to bring together no less than one hundred 

 and fourteen specimens of this puzzling group, including the types 

 of five of the described forms. The examination and comparison 

 of this material, inadequate as it is in many respects, has never- 

 theless led to some interesting results which, differing somewhat 

 as they do from previously published conclusions, are presented 

 herewith as a contribution towards the solution of an intricate and 

 perplexing problem. 



The bird in question was discovered by Dr. Henry Bryant on 

 the island of New Providence during his second visit to the Bahamas 

 (in the winter of 1865-66), and was described from three male 

 specimens under the name Geothlypis rostratus* comparison being- 

 made with G. trichas. In 1S72 Mr. Ridgway 2 reduced it to a 

 subspecies of G. trichas, but it was subsequently raised again to 

 specific rank by Mr. Cory 3 — a decision which has not been ques- 

 tioned since. Mr. Cory was apparently the second person to meet 

 with the species, securing two specimens, one of which was a female, 

 during December, 1878, and January, 1879. In 1886 Mr. Ridg- 

 way 4 described two allied forms, G. coryi from Eleuthera and G. 

 tanneri from Abaco, based on specimens collected by the naturalists 

 of the U. S. Fish Commission Steamer 'Albatross.' In 1892 Mr. 

 Cory 5 recorded birds of this general type from New Providence, 

 Andros, Great Bahama, Abaco, and Eleuthera, and suggested 

 that G. tanneri ought to stand as a subspecies of G. rostrata, while 

 at the same time insisting upon the specific distinctness of G. 

 coryi. His remarks seem to have been based on an examination 

 of the specimens in his own collection and in that of Mr. Charles 

 J. Maynard, who has collected more examples of these skulking, 

 retiring birds than any other person. Indeed, so far at least as 

 Xew Providence is concerned, these birds, never abundant at any 

 time, seem to have been so far reduced in numbers by Mr. May- 

 nard 's collecting (in 1897) that they have not yet recovered their 

 lost ground; at any rate, no subsequent collectors have ever been 



i Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist.. XI. 1867. 67 



2 Am. Jour. Sci., IV, 1872, 458. 



» Birds Bahama Islands, 1880, 73. 



* Auk, III, 1886, 334, 338. 



-Cat. West Indian Birds. 1892, 156. 



