Helminthophila leucobronchialis in Pennsylvania. A specimen of 



this bird w.is taken, August 31, 18S7, tiie central part of Chester Co., 

 Penn., on the edge of a dense swamp. It differs from the type in being 

 more washed with yellow below, and olive above. Dr. Fisher (to whom 

 the bird was sent for iiidentiHcation) writes that it closely resembles his 

 specimen from Englewood, N, J. (See Auk, IV, p. 348).— Witmer 

 Stone, Germanio-wn, Pa. 



iv\x\L, V. Jan. 1888. p. 



Note on Helminthophaga gdnnii, Gibbs. — The bird described in 

 the Grand Rapids "Daily Democrat" of June 1, 1879, as a new species of 

 Helminihopliaga, for whicli the above name was proposed, has been recently 

 forwarded to the Smithsonian Institution for examination ; and having had 

 the privilege of inspecting the example in question, it gives me great 

 pleasure to ofier a few remarks concerning it. In the first place, it may 

 be stated that Mr. Purdie's surmise (see his article in the July number 

 of this Bulletin, Vol. IV, p. 185), that the specimen might be merely a 

 variation of 11. leucobronchialis, Brewster, is correct. The specimen col- 

 lected by Mr. Gunn, and named after that gentleman, is in all essential 

 respects like the type of H. leucobronchialis, (which, through the courtesy 

 of its owner, I examined several years ago,) except that the breast has 

 a large, well-defined patch of bright gamboge-yellow, while the upper 

 parts are much less brightly colored, both the yellow of the crown (es- 

 pecially posteriorly) and the bluish-gray of the nape, back, and wings 

 being obscured by a wash of olive-green. The yellow wing-patch is also 

 more restricted than in the male. The yellow breast-patch, which is very 

 abruptly defined anteriorly against the pure white of the jugulum, does 

 not extend back to the flanks and abdomen, but is strictly limited to the 

 middle of the breast, the sides of which are deep bluish-gray, almost as 

 dark as the back. The upper part of the throat (not the chin) is strongly 

 tinged with pale yellow. The measurements are as follows : — wing, 2.40 ; 

 tail, 2.10 ; bill, from nostril, .35; tarsus, .65 ; middle toe, .42. 



This being, as Mr. Purdie remarks, the seventh specimen thus far col- 

 lected, the validity of H. leucobronchialis may be considered as established 

 beyond question. The variations in plumage and the sexual differences of 

 coloration appear to be nearly the same as those of H. chrysopiera, but 

 there seems to be a frequent tendency to assume more or less of a yellow 

 tinge beneath, especially on the breast, which is rarely to be noticed in 

 //. chrysopiera, although sometimes slightly indicated in that species. It is 

 not unlikely that there may be specimens of this species in the possession of 

 collectors who have mistaken them for individuals of H. chrysopiera, and 

 in view of this probability it would be well for those having the latter in 

 their collections to examine them critically. The species, in all stages, 

 may be readily distinguished by the entire absence of black or dull gray 

 on the throat (only the bases of the feathers being sometimes grayish), and 

 by the absence of the dusky-gray or black auricular patch. — Robert 

 RiDGVfAY, Washington, D. C. 



BuU.N.0.0, 4,Oct..I870,p. Jt>?3-23^. 



