Virix^loXirKE — TIIK VIREOS. 3(]| 



and is thus entitlod to a j)la(*o in our fauna. Its distinction i'nnn a. closely 

 allied race in Jamaica, Hayti, etc., var. rulhlris, is shown on pai^e :>ri9. 



A specimen helongini; to Mr. Salvin (" Xo. 187"), from " I.sthnius of Tana- 

 ma," we cannot distinguisli satisfactorily from typical examples of the i>re.«ient 

 race with which it is to he comj)ared, and not with ((ilidris. The colors are 

 (piiU' identical with those of hurhnfiihis. In size it is sliL-htly laruer, the 

 wing nieasurinjjf ^).-!^) instead of oAo ; the tail 'J.olJ, instead of 2.^>.■) (f^om 

 exjjosed base of feathers) ; the hill is thicker, heinn' :li) instead of .18 deep; 

 the third (pull is lonuest, the second intermediate Itetween it and the fourtli ; 

 the first intermediate hetween the fourth and hfth. In />^?y^^f/<///6s the second 

 is loui'est, the third and fourth succussiveb- a little shorter. It is not 

 improhable that other s})ecimens irom that locality may show oreat' r differ- 

 ences, as the specimen under exan)imition is in rather worn jdu naj^e, .did 

 has the tip of the bill broken oil" 



Haiuts. This species <mly claims a place in oiu* avifaur i on the «»round 

 of its presence in Florida. How abundant it is there is not determined, fur- 

 ther than it has been ob.'servcd within a restricted locality by Dr. Ileermann. 

 This was at Charlotte Harbor, on the southwestern coast. They appeared 

 to be visitors only, from a more southern clime. They reached Fbtrida in 

 their northern migrations, remaining only for a short season, but evidently 

 staying long enough to breed. Dr. Heermann states that this specii'S resem- 

 bles, in manners and in appearance, the common lled-eyed \'ireo of the 

 more northern States. He describes its song as clear and musical, and very 

 distinctly uttered. It was constantly on the search for insect.s, and apjteared 

 even more active than any of the nt)rthern species, darting among the loliage, 

 peering into crevices and cobwebs, susjH'nded from branches with its back 

 downward, and occasionallv chasiuir n living insect in the manner of a true 

 Flycatcher. These movements were usually accomjfanied by a song. This 

 species was not abundant, though Dr. Heermann saw it freipiently, and 

 obtained several s])ecimens. 



Dr. Bryant found this species very abundant at the Bahamas, arriving 

 there about the first of May. All the specimens he obtained were males, 

 the females not arriving there until after the DUh of May. The notes of 

 these birds, he states, vary, though the most common one resenddes v]up 

 torn hW^ phcuTt^ ]»ronouncing the first word distinctly. 



This bird,Mn lirown's History of Jamaica, is called " Whip-tom-kelly," 

 from the supposed resemblance of its notes to these articulate sounds, and 

 this po])ular ap])ellation has been given it liy various other writers. Mr. 

 (iosse, however, in his Birds of Jamaica, calls this bird " John-to-whit," and 

 can find no resemblance in its notes to the words referred to. He describes 

 its song .as uttered with incessant iterati\>n and untiring energy, and as 

 resembliuii Sicref-John ! John to irhtt ! stnrf John to n-hit ! After Julv the 



^ The Jainaicnn binl is V. cnIiilri-% not harhntulus. In all probability, however, they do not 

 ilifFer in habits and notes. - R. R. 



46 



