THE BIRDS OF THE JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS 7 
older ones, have the whole cap glistening metallic, although their wings are 
still in moult, and the primaries not yet fully developed. Mr. BACKSTROM has 
observed this variation with regard to the metallic colours of the crown and 
expresses as his opinion that »the variety described as /£. leyboldiz Gould was 
established through a mistake due to the fact that material from different 
seasons without intermediate links has been examined», The present material 
proves, however, that even specimens collected the same day may look diffe- 
rent, but I am nevertheless inclined to endorse Mr. BACKSTROM’s view. His 
opinion appears the more probable as also the metallic green of the female is 
subjected to the same variation. It is less bluish in some specimens than in 
others. In one of the fully developed females not even the discal spots of the 
throat have any bluish. lustre. 
Mr. BACKSTROM states that this species is common in the forests of the 
island. It builds its nest of fine moss in the montane fern-groves and lays two 
white eggs. The three nests brought home are comparatively large structures 
with a total height of about max. 10,5; and min. 7,5; cm. and a thickness of 
about max. 7,5 and min. 5,5 cm. The cup-shaped nest has an interior diameter 
of approximately 23—25 mm. and a depth of approximately 20 mm. The cup 
of the nest itself has its walls constructed of the soft reddish wool of Dick- 
sonia. The exterior is made of green moss (Weymouthia) which constitutes 
the main part of the bulk. This moss is partly comparatively loosely attached, 
so that it forms a kind of fringy covering. The nests are attached on one 
side and partly at the bottom to a fine branch or to the slender climbing 
rhizomes of Blechnum Schotti, the midrib of a fern frond & ca, The eggs are 
rather cylindrical in shape, with a length of 14 mm. and a transverse diameter 
of g mm. 
The three nests in the collection have all been taken in the month of 
December. As not all birds have attained full plumage even in the last days 
of that month, it is probable that the breeding season is more extended, as it 
is rather unlikely that the different individuals should begin breeding before 
they have aquired full nuptial plumage. 
Eustephanus galeritus Molina 
Masatierra: males, 5 77/12 1916, 1 79/3, 1 7*/4 1917; females, 6 ?"/12 1917. 
All the males are in full plumage with brightly glistening caps. The one 
collected in April is anomalous in having some feathers of the upper neck 
white so as to form a transverse band: in addition to this, there is a great 
white patch occupying the lower rump. 
About its occurrence Mr. BACKSTROM communicates as follows: »This 
species seems to be much more common in summer than in winter. The in- 
habitants of the island argue that it migrates to Chile to pass the winter. 
Skippers running with schooners between the main land and the island were 
also fully convinced that they had seen flocks of this bird halfway between 
the island and the continent». 
