58 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



ward; plumage in general blended, hair-like (softer and more downy 

 on posterior under parts). Above (including tail) plain olive or 

 drab, the back sometimes brown, the primaries usually chestnut, at 

 least on inner webs; under parts grayish white to light buffy brown 

 anteriorly, buff to tawny posteriorly; rectrices (except middle pair) 

 broadly tipped with white and with a broad black subterminal band 

 or area. 



Range. — Greater Antilles and Bahamas. (Five species.) 



KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OP SAUROTHERA. 



a. Larger, with much stouter bill (wing not less than 160; depth of bill at nostrils more 

 than 12 mm.). 

 6. Outer webs of primaries brownish gray, like general color of upper parts. (Sau- 

 rothera bahamensis.) 

 c. Grayer above, without rufescent tinge on basal portion of primaries; under 

 parts paler; blackish subterminal areas on under surface of rectrices broader; 

 bill averaging longer and narrower. (New Providence and Eleuthera 



islands, Bahamas.) Saurothera bahamensis bahamensis (p. 58). 



cc. Browner above, with basal portion of primaries more rufescent; under parts 

 more deeply colored ; bill averaging shorter and relatively deeper. ( Andros 



Island, Bahamas.) Saurothera bahamensis andria (p. 60). 



66. Outer webs of primaries deep cinnamon-rufous. (Saurothera merlini.) 

 c. Larger (wing 165-187, tail 272-331, culmen 50-65, tarsus 40.5-47) ; color browner 



above, darker below. (Cuba.) Saurothera merlini merlini (p. 60). 



cc. Smaller (wing 155-178.5, tail 234-278, culmen 47-53, tarsus 39-15.5); color 

 grayer above, paler below. (Isle of Pines.) 



Saurothera merlini decolor (p. 61). 



aa. Smaller, with much more slender bill (wing less than 150; depth of bill at nostrils 



not more than 10 mm., usually much less). 



5. Pileum browner than back; no buff on chin or throat. 



c. Lateral rectrices grayish, with black subterminal band; outer webs of primaries 



grayish brown; color of pileum not conspicuously different from that of back. 



(Porto Rico.) Saurothera vieilloti (p. 62). 



cc. Lateral rectrices black (except the very broad white tip); outer webs of 

 primaries deep cinnamon-rufous; color of pileum and hindneck dark brown, 

 conspicuously different from color of back. (Jamaica.) 



Saurothera vetula (p. 63). 

 bb. Pileum gray, like back; chin and throat buff or cinnamon-buff. (Haiti.) 



Saurothera dominie ensis (p. 64). 



SAUROTHERA BAHAMENSIS BAHAMENSIS Bryant. 



BAHAMAS LIZARD-CUCKOO. 



Much like s. merlini but upper parts much grayer (without brown 

 on back, etc.), outer webs of primaries pale grayish brown instead of 

 cinnamon-rufous, and color of lower breast, abdomen, etc., very 

 much paler. 



Adults (sexes alike). — Above plain brownish gray or light grayish 

 olive, becoming more decidedly gray on pileum and hindneck, the 

 secondaries and tail faintly glossed with bronze-greenish; outer 



