t l6 Scott, Birds of the Gulf Coast of Florida . [April 



are females; they include thirteen birds of the year, which differ from 

 the adults in being much paler, as well as smaller. Below they are 

 dull, rather strong, bufty white, with faint blackish edges to the feathers 

 of the jugular region and sides of the throat, varying in distinctness in 

 different specimens. Above, the head is darker, and the chestnut is of 

 a duller, darker tone. 



"The range of individual variation in color in the adults, especially of 

 the lower surface, is very marked, the color below varying from very pale 

 to very strong cinnamon, with or without blackish bars on the flanks. 

 There is a less marked variation in the tone of the reddish chestnut of 

 the upper parts. 



"There appears to be no sexual variation in color, several of the strong- 

 est colored birds being females. There is, however, a slight average 

 difference in size, the wing in the females averaging one sixth of an inch 

 shorter than in the males. 



"Two of your specimens are exceptional in having the flanks strongly 

 barred with black, One is a male (No. 6052, Tarpon Springs, June 7, 

 1SS8), the other a female (No. 6064, Tarpon Springs, June 13, 1888). The 

 female is dark cinnamon below, the male very pale cinnamon. Both 

 are adult birds. A number of other specimens show traces, more 

 or less distinct, of blackish bars on the flanks, apparently about one 

 specimen in ten. Those with broad, heavy black bars on the flanks are 

 apparently in the ratio of about one to twenty-five. The heavily barred, 

 strongly colored No. 6064 bears a striking resemblance to Mexican 

 (Tampico) specimens of Thryothorus I. berlandieri, the latter differing' 

 in smaller size, a longer, slenderer bill, less intense chestnut above, and 

 grayer head, wings and tail. 



"Your series shows in a very interesting way the seasonal variation in 

 color between summer and winter plumage. The winter (December to 

 April) birds are much more intensely red above, and much stronger 

 (almost reddish) cinnamon below, than, the summer (breeding; b ; rds, 

 taken in May, June and July. 



"I refer all of your specimens, and also a considerable series collected 

 near Micco, on the east coast of Florida, by Mr. Frank M. Chapman, to 

 Thryothorus. ludovicianus miamensis. On the other hand Mr. Chapman's 

 series taken at Gainesville, Florida, in winter are all referable to true 

 ludovicianus. How much below Gainesville ludovicianus may extend in 

 winter, or how much above the Indian River district of the east coast, and 

 Tarpon Springs on the west coast, miamensis is found, cannot at present 

 be determined. It seems probable, however, that the habitat of miamen- 

 sis will include at least the southern half of the Florida peninsula, and 

 that ludovicianus, even in winter, may be restricted to the northern half 

 and northward. 



"As»to the differences characterizing the two forms, miamensis is much 

 the larger, and much more strongly colored. Thus ten males of mia- 

 mensis taken in June and July average as follows : Wing, 2.46; tail, 2.19; 

 culmen, .70 inch; while ten males of ludovicianus from various localities 



