82 
BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL 
dilference does exist in this species between specimens from the 
country eastward of the Alleghanies and those from the Western 
States of the Eastern Sub-region, for not only does the ample series 
of specimens examined indicate such a difference, but evidence ac- 
cumulated by correspondence confirms it. After examining all the 
material accessible I deemed it prudent, in order to make sure that 
the variations noted were not in part of an individual character, to 
call the attention of others to the subject. Accordingly, a pair of 
the western form (from Southern Illinois), in spring plumage, of 
which the male was unusually bright, w^ere despatched to Mr. 
William Brewster, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, with the request 
that they be compared with his New England series, as well as wuth 
other local collections in Cambridge, while at the same time a typical 
example of the eastern style was mailed to Mr. E. W. Nelson, of 
Chicago, Illinois, with the same request. The replies of these gen- 
tlemen have been received, and fully establish my previous conclu- 
sion that the differences were strictly geographical. Mr. Brewster’s 
letter reads as follows : — 
“ I have very carefully compared the birds sent with my series 
of twenty Massachusetts specimens, and find that they differ widely 
from any that I have ever taken here. The decided yellow of the 
entire under parts and the chestnut markings are constant in our 
bird, and subject to but a limited amount of variation, and this 
chiefly sexual. Tbe dullest fall female in my series is much brighter 
beneath than your spring male. Again, your birds are clear brown 
above, from the occiput to the rump, while mine all have a greenish- 
yellow cast ; the lower eyelid in your specimens is white, while in 
mine it is as decidedly yellow as the superciliary stripe ; and, lastly, 
the markings on the lower parts, though more numerous, are brown 
instead of chestnut, and of a different shape, being mostly linear 
instead of tear-shaped A pair of these birds from Florida 
agree very well with your specimens, after making due allowance for 
difference of season, they being winter birds. I saw at a glance 
that the birds you sent were totally different in color from any that 
are ever taken here, and as I have probably examined one hundred 
Massachusetts specimens altogether, I can assure you positively 
that the form, you sent never occurs here at any season.” 
Mr. Buthven Deane, of Cambridge, also examined the pair sent 
for inspection, and has this to say of them : “ I have compared 
your two specimens of B. palmarum with mine, and find that they 
differ in the respects of which Mr. Brewster has written you. The 
