THE



Bxucultural flfcagastne,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



VOL. VI. —NO. 71. All rights reserved. SEPTEMBER, 1900.



THE LITTLE OR YELLOW-THROATED FINCH.


(Phonipara pusillaj

By Reginald Phillipps.


(Continued from page iqg.)


According to the Museum Catalogue (vol. xii. p. 148), P.

Pusilla and P. olivacea (a) merge into each other ; “ and it is

certain that they cannot be regarded as more than sub-species.”

This may be so ; but I think it should be pointed out that (so I

gather from the Catalogue) the birds on the islands (Greater

Antilles) breed true to colour as P. lepida, while the mainland birds

(from Mexico throughout Central America to Panama and

Colombia—and also presumably on the island of Jolbox) breed

true to colour as P. pusilla. It would seem that it is only on the

island of Cozumel that the two merge into each other, by the

Cozumel specimens of P. pusilla (distinguished as P. intermedia')

having green ear-coverts like P. lepida , and smaller breast

patches than the typical bird.


The smaller breast patch and the green ear-coverts seem

to be the disturbing features. But allowance does not seem to

have been made for the changes of plumage, perhaps partly

seasonal and partly in respect of age. It is quite possible that

most of the specimens from each locality, in the Museum, may

have been obtained at the same time. I do not know if such was

the case, but British Naturalists do not visit such a place as the

island of Cozumel every day. Now the numbering of my males

was in accordance with what appeared on their arrival to be

simply the brightness of their plumage, but what was probably

their degree of forwardness, which naturally carried with it

proportionate vigour and courage. But the developments do

not seem to have altogether stopped with the moult, for No. 3,


(a) This is one of several instances in the Catalogue where the author betrays that he

has not the courage of his convictions. In this case, he considers that the familiar specific

name of the Olive Finchshould be superseded, and styles the species P. lepida ; but in the

text he talks of it not as P. lepida but as P. olivacea.— R.P.



