360 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [June, 



54. Todus subulatus, Tody, " Barrancali." 



Abundant at all localities visited. Very tame and unsuspicious. 

 On one occasion one of these birds actually alighted on my gun-barrel, 

 as I stood motionless near a small stream. The note of this bird is a 

 frog-like croak. The nest is built in holes in the banks of streams; 

 eggs pure white. 



55. Todus angustirostris, Narrow-billed Tody, " Barrancali chico." 



The habits and note of this species are similar to the preceding, 

 but it is not so common and is very local in its distribution. I found 

 it more common than subulatus at San Lorenzo and El Valle, but did 

 not meet with it at all at Sanchez, and saw but one or two individuals 

 at Samana. In the interior it was about as abundant as subulatus. 



56. Pioumnus lawrenoei, Lawrence's Pigmy Woodpecker. 



This odd little bird is rather rare, although possibly its apparent 

 scarcity is due to its quiet and retiring habits and dull coloring 

 which render it inconspicuous. It was not known to any natives 

 I met, and was obtained only at Sanchez and Samana. 



57. Melanerpes striatus, Woodpecker, "Carpintero." 



This is the most abundant and destructive bird on the island. It 

 is seen everywhere and there is hardly a palm tree in the republic that 

 is not riddled with its holes. It feeds on fruits, oranges, and cacao- 

 pods and frequently ruins the crop. 



Fortunately its increase is kept down by a fatal provision of nature 

 in the shape of a parasitic worm which infests the throat and head. 

 This worm matures at the season when the young woodpeckers are 

 able to leave the nest, and after that time it is practically impossible 

 to find an adult Melanerpes alive. The ground beneath the nests is 

 often strewn with dead and dying adult birds, their throats and 

 crops so distended with the disgusting parasites as to render them 

 incapable of flight. 



58. Chordeiles minor, Cuban Nighthawk. 



Common on the open savannas of the interior. 



59. Antrostomus oarolinensis, Chuck-Wills- Widow, " Quiere Beber." 



Not rare in the more open portions of wooded hillsides and on open 

 savannas. Sanchez; La Vega; El Valle. 



60. Cypseloides niger, Black Swift, "Golondrina negro." 



Common in the interior and at Samana. 



61. Cypselus phoenicobius, Swift. 



Common along the Camu River at La Vega. 



