BIRDS OP NOETH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 657 



that found on Eleuthera {G. coryi) and one of those found on Abaco 

 (6*. tanneri), but are nevertheless recognizably different. That found 

 on Andros (6^. exigua) resembles the second Abaco form {G. mcompta) 

 but is smaller. ' 



Were each of these seven insular forms peculiar to a separate island 

 they might easily be considered local subspecies of one specific type; 

 but the fact that three of them inhabit a single small island and are 

 said to have very distinct habitats and notes, while two others inhabit 

 another island, renders such a view of their relationship untenable. 

 For the present, or until we know more about these puzzling Bahama 

 forms, probably the safest course would be to consider them all as 

 distinct species; at the same time their characters suggest that theii- 

 status might perhaps be more correctly indicated by the following 

 nomenclature: 



1. Geoikh/pis rostrata. New Providence. 



2. Geothlypis tanneri tanneri. Abaco. 



3. Geothlypis tanneri maynardi. New Providence. 



4. Geothlypis incompta incompta. Abaco. 



5. Geothlypis incompta exigua. Andros. 



6. Geothlypis coryi coryi. Eleuthera. 



7. Geothlypis cm^i flavida. New Providence. 



Whatever .the facts may be, however, the case is an excellent illustra- 

 tion of the difficulties in the way of determining the rank of insular 

 forms, and should be carefully considered by those who would apply 

 the same criteria to insular as to continental forms. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OP GEOTHLYPIS. 



a. Forehead and sides of head (loral, orbital, auricular, and malar regions') black. 

 (Adult males. ) 

 h. Tail not much, if any, longer than wing (usually decidedly shorter) . 

 c. A distinct light gray, whitish, or yellow space immediately behind the black 

 "mask;" outermost (ninth) primary longer than first. 

 d. Band across crown (immediately behind black frontal patch) gray or white, 

 sometimes tinged with yellow, but never clear yellow; feathers of crown 

 and occiput gray beneath surface, 

 e. Smaller (wing not exceeding 60, usually much less, or else culmen less 

 than 12). (Continental forms: Geothlypis irichas.) 

 /. Post-facial space gray. ( Eastern forms. ) 



g. Coloration paler, the back, etc., light grayish olive-green, the crown, 

 (except anteriorly) and occiput grayish brown or olive, the flanks 

 light buffy grayish or brownish; wing more pointed, the outer- 

 most (ninth) primary usually equal to or longer than fourth; tail 

 relatively shortei, usually decidedly shorter than wing. 



In the two exclusively South American species, G. velata and G. sequinoclialis, the 

 malar region is yellow, like the under parts. 



3654— VOL 2- 01 42 



