FAMILY FRINGILLIDAE 



539 



Measurements. — Males (6 from Isla Coiba, including the type) , wing 

 84.6-90.5 (87.8), tail 76.4-78.7 (77.6), oilmen from base 17.3-18.8 

 (18.3), tarsus 23.4-24.0 (23.6) mm. 



Females (7 from Isla Coiba), wing 84.3-88.8 (86.8), tail 74.5-79.8 

 (77.3), oilmen from base 17.7-19.0 (18.4), tarsus 22.0-24.2 (23.9) 

 mm. 



Resident. Found on Coiba, Rancheria, and Brincanco islands off 

 the Pacific Coast of Veraguas. Two specimens from Isla Brincanco in 

 the Islas Contreras group, not mentioned in the original description, 

 prove definitely referable to scotinus. On Coiba in January 1956, they 

 were sometimes in pairs, but at this season they were not singing. 

 While not abundant, they were widely distributed, so the total number 

 of individuals found on the island is considerable. The wings and tail 

 of this race average noticeably shorter than in any other Panama form. 



In April 1976, Ridgely (in litt.) found this race quite common in 

 forest undergrowth and borders. Many were singing. The song is of 

 the same quality and rhythm as in mainland birds, but often lacks the 

 characteristic slurred final note. On April 11, Ridgely saw one pair 

 accompanied by recently fledged young. 



SALTATOR ALBICOLLIS MELICUS Wetmore 



Saltator albicollis melicus Wetmore, 1952, Smiths. Misc. Coll., 121 (2), p. 29. 

 (Taboga Island, Panama.) 



Characters. — Similar to S. a. isthmicus, but with larger, heavier bill; 

 sides of head grayer; streak on either side of throat averaging darker; 

 flanks averaging darker; undersurface most heavily streaked of Pan- 

 ama races; dorsal surface of tail and upper tail coverts averaging 

 slightly darker gray. 



Measurements. — Males (7 from Taboga Island, including the type), 

 wing 88.2-92.5 (90.8), tail 79.3-85.0 (82.4), culmen from base 18.8- 

 20.9 (19.8), tarsus 22.3-24.1 (23.2) mm. 



Females (4 from Taboga Island), wing 85.7-90.0 (87.5), tail 79.4- 

 83.6 (81.0), culmen from base 19.4-20.0 ( 19.6) , tarsus 22.8-24.8 (23.7) 

 mm. 



Resident. Found on Taboga Island in the Bay of Panama. This 

 species was fairly common, but shy during my visit to Taboga in March 

 1952. The birds ranged in the thickets bordering the fields, or in the 

 scrub on the lower slopes, where we found them most active early in 

 the morning. In such areas, males sang from elevated perches near the 

 tops of trees, under open cover, while others ranged through the leaf- 



