1907 1 Chapman, The Eastern Forms of Geothlypis trichas. 31 



In preparing the manuscript for a monograph of North American 

 Mniotiltidse it seemed desirable, therefore, to reconsider the rela- 

 tionships of these birds. To this end Mr. Ridgway has kindly 

 loaned me the pertinent specimens under his charge. I have also 

 had birds from Doctors Bishop and Dwight, and have examined 

 the collections of Mr. Brewster, of the Biological Survey, as well, of 

 course, as the specimens in the American Museum of Natural 

 History. 



This material shows that the middle Yellow-throat, the so-called 

 trichas, averages smaller and paler than either of the forms south 

 (ignota) or north (brachidactyla) of it. The differentiation is so 

 slight, however, and is so frequently bridged by variation as to 

 invalidate the claim for distinction by name of this central form. 



This, it is true, is a matter of opinion, but in examining the 

 literature bearing on the question an interesting discovery was 

 made which places the whole matter in a new light. 



In applying the name trichas to the Yellow-throat of the Middle 

 States Mr. Palmer accepted the prevailing opinion that the type 

 locality for this form is Maryland. It appears, however, that this 

 is not the case, the specimen which Edwards 1 figured and de- 

 scribed, and which is cited first by Linnpeus, 2 not having come 

 from Maryland but form Carolina! Edwards's (/. c.) statement 

 of its origin is as follows: "This bird was the property of Mr. 

 Elliot, Merchant, in Broad Street, London, who received it, with 

 others, preserved in spirits, from Carolina, in North America; and 

 was so obliging as to lend them all to me, to take drawings of them" 

 (/. c). The origin of the name "Maryland Yellow-throat," 

 which Edwards gave to his Carolina bird, as well as the cause for 

 the erroneous belief that his type came from Maryland, is revealed 

 by the remarks which follow the quotation just given. He con- 

 tinues: "J. Petiver, in his Gazophylacium, plate VI. has given 

 the figure of a bird, which I believe to be the same with this; for 

 which reason I continue the name he has given it: all he says of 

 it is, 'Avis Marylandica gutture luteo, the Maryland Yellow-Throat. 

 This the Rev. Mr. H. Jones sent me from Maryland.' Petiver's 



1 Gleanings of Nat. Hist., 1758, I, p. 56, pi. 237. 

 2 Syst. Nat., ed. 12, 1766, 293. 



