A NEW SUBSPECIES OF THE GENUS HYLOCICHLA. 



BY REGINALD HEBER HOWE, JR. 



Since I published my paper on 'The Ranges of Hylocichla fusces- 

 cens and Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola ' in ' The Auk ' for January, 

 1900 (Vol. XVII, No. I, pp. 18-25), I have had quite a number of 

 additional specimens sent me for examination and identification. 

 These have forced me to recognize that a subspecific difference ex- 

 ists between the Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola of the West and the 

 bird inhabiting Newfoundland, which in my former paper I referred 

 to this same race. I noticed at that time that a slight difference did 

 exist, but did not deem it worthy of separation ; not being in favor 

 of describing slight variations. I am now, however, of the opinion 

 that the Newfoundland bird is subspecifically distinct from the 

 western though nearer this race than to Hylocichla fus- 



cescens. This difference, now apparent, proves the necessity of 

 having, in describing species and subspecies, very large series 

 with which to work. My former paper was based on the examina- 

 tion of far more specimens than a great many of our recognized 

 subspecies have been described from, and yet the addition to that 

 series has proved that if the western race salicicola is recognized 

 the race inhabiting Newfoundland also must be, or in other words 

 that the former series of thirty-six specimens only barely suggest- 

 ed what the addition of eleven more specimens proves. 



The Newfoundland Veery {Hylocichla fuscescens fiiliginosa) in Massa- 

 chusetts. — On the 27th of last September I shot a specimen of this lately 

 described bird in Lanesboro, Berkshire Co., Mass., — the first example 

 taken in this State. The four autumnal records for New England fall 

 within the narrow limits of five days (Sept. 23-27), and indicate a migra- 

 tion through this region considerably later than the departure of the native 

 Veeries for the South. In 1889 I killed a Veery in Waltham, Mass., on 

 the extraordinarily late date, Oct. 5. This bird was unfortunately not pre- 

 served, but without much doubt it belonged to the race ftiliginosa. — Wal- 

 ter Faxon, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass. 



Auk, XVIII, April,. 1901, 



Hylocichla fuscescens fuliginosa. — In this same hou"se 1 discovered a 

 specimen of the Newfoundland Thrush, taken, also near Lowell, a num- 

 ber of autumns ago. This is the second record for the State. — Reginald 

 Heber Howe, Jr., Lotigwood, Mass. 



Auk, XIX. Jan., 1902. p • f^'- 



