V0L mi VI11 ] ToDD > Bahama,, Spear* of GeotMyjris. 247 



The problem, thus reduced to its lowest terms, is seen to be quite 

 simple. The confusion heretofore obtaining has been largely 

 due, it will have been observed, to an imperfect understanding 

 of the sequence of plumages involved, occasioned by lack of mate- 

 rial. While there is still much to be desired in this respect, I 

 venture to predict that the conclusions announced will not be 

 unfavorably affected by future observations. In this connection 

 I would suggest that Geothlypis rostrata is perhaps the descendant 

 of a form which came originally from southern Mexico by way of 

 Yucatan, being most nearly related to the group of Mexican spe- 

 cies which comprises G. flavovelata, 1 G. chapalensis, and G. beldingi, 

 rather than to G. trichas. 



In order to completely clear up the confusion in the present 

 group it seems desirable to cite the references, which are accordingly 

 given herewith, together with a list of the specimens examined. 

 In order to indicate the average difference in measurements that 

 exist the dull (immature) and bright (adult) birds are separately 

 grouped. The respective collections to which the specimens be- 

 long are designated by small index figures, as follows: 1 U. S. 

 National Museum; 2 Bangs Collection (now in the Museum of 

 ( 'omparative Zoology) ; 3 Carnegie Museum ; 4 Field Museum ; 

 5 American Museum; fi Brewster Collection; 7 Columbia University; 

 8 Bonhote Collection. This material comprises very nearly all the 

 specimens now in America. 



Geothlypis rostrata rostrata Bryan! . 



Geothlypis rostratus Bryant, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., XI, 1867. 

 67 (Nassau, New Providence; type now in collection U. S. National 

 Museum; food).— Cory, Birds Bahama Is., 1880, 73, 226 (New Provi- 

 dence; descr.; crit.; habits). — Cory, List Birds W. Indies, 1885, 9 (New 

 Providence). — Ridgway, Auk, III, 1886, 335, in text (crit.). — Cory, 

 Cat. W. Indian Birds, 1892, 156 (New Providence and Andros; crit.). — 

 Bonhote, Ibis, 1899, 510 (New Providence; habits; crit.). 



Trichas rostrata Gray, Hand-List, I, 1869, 242. 



Geothlypis trichas var. rostrata Ridgway, Am. Journ. Sci., IV, 1872, 

 458 (New Providence; diag.). — Ridgway, in Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, 

 Hist. N. Am. Birds, I, 1874, 296 (New Providence; diag.). 



1 G. flaviceps is now admitted by its describer, Mr. E. W. Nelson, to have been 

 based on individual variation in G. flavovelata. 



