_Trichas_, SWAINSON, Zoöl. Journ. III, July, 1827, 167 (not of
Gloger, March, 1827, equal to _Criniger_, Temm.).
_Geothlypis_, CABANIS, Wiegmann’s Archiv, 1847, I, 316, 349.—IB.
Schomburgk’s Reise, Guiana, 1848.
GEN. CHAR. Bill sylvicoline, rather depressed, and distinctly notched;
rictal bristles very short or wanting. Wings short, rounded, scarcely
longer than the tail; the first quill shorter than the fourth. Tail
long; much rounded or graduated. Legs stout; tarsi elongated, as long
as the head. Olive-green above, belly yellow. Tail-feathers
immaculate. Legs yellow.
Synopsis of Species.
Throat yellow … _Series I._
Throat ash … _Series II._
_Series I._
A. Black mask extending beneath the eye and on the auriculars.
1. G. trichas. Black mask bordered along its posterior edge
with pale ashy or whitish; maxillæ black. Sexes dissimilar. ♀.
Olive-brown above; throat only, distinctly yellow; no black
mask. _Juv._ Without either black or pure yellow; above
olive-brown, like ♀, beneath pale ochraceous-buff.
Abdomen almost always whitish; occiput russet-olive. Bill,
from nostril, .30;. tarsus, .70; wing, 2.25; tail, 2.15.
_Hab._ Whole of United States; in winter most of West Indies,
and Middle America, north to Guatemala … var. _trichas_.
Colors similar; abdomen yellow. Bill, .45; tarsus, .90; wing,
2.50; tail, 2.50. _Hab._ Nassau; New Providence; Bahamas …
var. _rostrata_.[52]
Abdomen bright yellow; occiput whitish-ash tinged with
yellow. Bill, .32; tarsus, .75; wing, 2.45; tail, 2.50.
_Hab._ Eastern Mexico (Jalapa?) … var. _melanops_.[53]
2. G. æquinoctialis. Black mask not bordered posteriorly by
ashy or whitish; much narrower on forehead than on auriculars;
maxillæ yellow. Sexes similar.
Black of the auriculars bordered posteriorly by the
olive-green of the neck. Bill, .17 deep; wing, 2.50; tail,
2.35. _Hab._ Northeast South America (Cayenne, Trinidad,
etc.) … var. _æquinoctialis_.[54]
Black of the auriculars bordered posteriorly by the ash of
the crown. Bill, .14 deep; wing, 2.40; tail, 2.50. _Hab._
Brazil … var. _velata_.[55]
B. Black mask not extending underneath the eye, but confined to
lores and frontlet.
3. G. poliocephala. Bill much as in _Granatellus_. Above
olive-green; the crown light ash; beneath yellow. Sexes
dissimilar.
Eyelids white; nape and auriculars olive-green; abdomen
whitish. Bill, .30, .15 deep; wing, 2.20; tail, 2.50. _Hab._
West Mexico (Mazatlan) … var. _poliocephala_.[56]
Eyelids black; nape and auriculars ashy; abdomen wholly
yellow. Bill, .35, .18 deep; wing, 2.40; tail, 2.50. _Hab._
Guatemala (Retaluleu) … var. _caninucha_.[57]
_Series II._
4. G. philadelphia. Head all round ashy; lores only, black.
Sexes nearly similar.
Eyelids dusky (except in ♀); a black patch on jugulum of ♂.
♀. Throat tinged with yellow. _Hab._ Eastern Province of
North America; in winter south to Panama … var. _philadelphia_.
Eyelids white; no black patch on jugulum. ♀. Throat not
tinged with yellow. _Hab._ Western and Middle Province of
United States; in winter south to Costa Rica (Western Coast) …
var. _macgillivrayi_.
Geothlypis trichas, CABAN.