BIRDS OF THE TEES MARIAS ISLANDS. 



41 



shorter tarsus. Averages of 9 specimens from the islands (both sexes) : 

 Wing, 233.3; tail, 133.6; culmen, 34.3; tarsus, 24.7. Averages of 7 

 specimens from both coasts of the mainland (both sexes) : Wing, 222.5; 

 tail, 120.1; culmen, 34.4; tarsus, 24.5. 



Some old residents on Maria Madre reported that they had occa- 

 sionally seen stray individuals of another parrot which was a little 

 smaller than the yellow head, probably Amazona finschi, which is 

 abundant on the mainland. 



Psittacula insularis Ridgway. Tres Marias Lovebird. 



Psittacula cyanopyga Grayson, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., XIV, p. 271, 1871; 



Lawr., Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., II, p. 297, 1874 (part). 



Psittacula insularis Ridgway, Proc. U. S. Nat. Museum, X, 1887, p. 541 (Aug. 1888). 

 Psittacula cyanopygia Salvador!, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XX, p. 249, 1891 (part). 



Lovebirds, or 'catarinas,' as they are called by the Mexicans, are 

 common on Maria Madre and Maria Magdalena, and probably occur on 

 Maria Cleofa, although none were seen on the latter island. They 

 were usually seen in flocks, from a few pairs up to 30 or 40 individuals, 

 and in May were feeding on small, sweet, wild figs, common on the lower 

 slopes. While feeding they keep up a constant chattering, which noti- 

 fies one of their presence. When flying over the top of the forest they 

 keep in compact flocks and move steadily forward with rapid wing 

 beats, suggesting a flock of cedar birds. They are very gentle, affec- 

 tionate little creatures and quickly become tame and greatly attached 

 to their owners. 



Salvadori considers Paittacula insularis a synonym of P. cyanopyga. 

 The series of eight adults from the islands and seven from the main- 

 land show that the island birds can be readily distinguished. The 

 two series show no signs of intergradatiou in color, and their specific 

 distinctness is well defined, although the average measurements show 

 but slight differences in size. 



Description of Psittacula insularis, $ ad., 

 Maria Madre, May, 1897: 



Cheeks, lores, forehead, and crown, 

 back to line between orbits, rich green, 

 decidedly clearer than in cyanopyga, and 

 rnnch more sharply contrasted with sur- 

 rounding colors. 



Middle of crown green, shading 

 abruptly into dull bluish green, which 

 extends thence over neck, middle of back, 

 scapulars, tertials, and lesser wing 

 coverts. 



Rump patch, axillars, and greater wing 

 coverts vivid cobalt blue. 



Upper tail coverts brighter green than 

 middle of back, but darker than in 

 cyanopyija. 



Upper surface of tail dark green, darker 

 than in cyanopyga. 



Description of Psittacula cyanopyga, $ ad., 

 Tepic, Mexico, April, 1897: 



Cheeks, lores, and forehead bright 

 green, more yellowish than in insularis, 

 and shading gradually into surrounding 

 colors. 



Crown, from between orbits, neck, mid- 

 dle of back, scapulars, tertials, and 

 lesser wing coverts, dark green without 

 bluish. 



Rump patch, axillars, and greater wing 

 coverts bright turquoise blue. 



Upper tail coverts clearer green than 

 back. 



Upper surface of tail rich green. 



