NOBLE: THE RESIDENT BIRDS OF GUADELOUPE. 389 
39. COEREBA DOMINICANA (Taylor). 
Sucrier. 
Common in the cultivated regions. Ten specimens from the plan- 
tations about Ste. Claude and Ste. Rose. 
I have examined a series of five adults of this species from Guade- 
loupe, four from Antigua and five from Dominica, and I find a con- 
siderable variation in both color and size. In adults from the same 
island the breast and belly varies from yellow-green to bright ochra- 
ceous while the upper parts differ considerably in their intensities. 
The specimens from Antigua have a constantly shorter tarsus, it 
averaging 17.2 mm. against 18.2 for those of Guadeloupe and 18.4 
for those of Dominica. The other measurements are all within the 
limits of individual variation. 
The white wing-spot does not seem to be a good specific character. 
In two of the specimens from Antigua, one from Guadeloupe, and two 
from Dominica this mark is just visible. Upon examining a series of 
nine adults from St. Croix and another of nineteen adults from 
Grenada and Grenadines I fail to find that the characters given by 
Ridgway (Bull. 50, U.S. N. M., 1902, pt. 2, p. 400) in his key hold true. 
Instead of C. saccharina having a smaller wing-spot than C. newton, 
it has in every case at least as large if not a larger one. Again, the 
superciliary stripes of the latter are not broader than those of the 
former, rarely, however, they come closer together on the head (2 
specimens) and spread out so as to touch each other. C. newtoni may, 
however, generally be distinguished from C. saccharina by its lighter 
color, especially on the breast and throat, and again by its shorter 
tarsus averaging 18.3 mm. (fourteen specimens) against 19.1 for the 
latter. 
Everywhere in the lowlands and as far up the mountain as the 
Grand Bois extends, the Honey Creeper is abundant. About the 
banana plantations I found them in greatest numbers, often nesting 
in the vicinity of the houses. When examining a flower this species is 
as acrobatic and agile as a nuthatch, while its undulating flight is 
much more graceful. The song is a characteristic little wheeze,— 
Zee! — Zee! Because of its great curiosity the Honey Creeper is 
often killed by the small boys. All the country gamins know how to 
“squeak up”’ this little bird into range of their blow-pipes or they can, 
at least, catch them by means of straws smeared with bird-lime. 
