154 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



dents to the lowland landscape ; it generally builds on the low branches of 

 trees or bushes, heaping together a mass of sticks and leaves, in the centre 

 of which is formed a shallow bowl, with softer materials. Each female lays 

 4 eggs ; several pairs, however, usually occupy one nest, in which 20 or more 

 eggs are often found. These are oval, or oblong oval, rounded at both ends, 

 measuring from JL by 1 inch, to 1} by 1^, seagreen, covered with a white 



chalky substance, removed by washing. In the absence of the birds, which, 

 however, is rarely the case after incubation comtnences, the eggs are covered 

 up with leaves. I have never heard of the Savanna blackbirds being taught 

 to speak. Whenever a flock of Guinea fowls is feeding, the Ani are often 

 to be found at hand, as it were keeping guard, and giving instant alarm on the 

 approach of any one. 



87. Coccyzus dojiinicus.* The May Witch is a constant resident in the island, 

 and more common in the lowlands during the summer than C. seniculus. It 

 breeds from March till July, and builds in the low branches of trees or shrubs, 

 or on penguin fences. The nest is a structure of a few dry sticks, so loosely 

 put together that it falls to pieces on any attempt to remove it ; 3, rarely 4 

 eggs are laid ; they are glaucous green oval, generally though not always round 

 at both ends, and vary in size from 1| by | to If by 1 inch. 



88. Coccyzus seniculus. The nest of the black-eared Cuckoo is sometimes 

 though not so frequently found in the same localities, and at the same times 

 as those of its congener. The nidification, form, color and dimensions of the 

 eggs are so like that the ownership of a nest can only be determined by the 

 presence of the bird. 



There is another Cuckoo often met with in the Mangrove swamps, on the 

 seacoast, known as the Mangrove Cuckoo. It closely resembles the May Witch, 

 except in its smaller size. It is, I think, only a visitor. This may be the C. 

 trythrophthalmns or an allied species. 



Descriptions of fourteen new species of HELANID2E and one PALTJDINA. 



BY ISAAC LEA. 



Goniobasis Milesii. Testa laevi, subfusiformi, olivacea, evittata; spira sab- 

 elevata; suturis irregulariter impressis; anfractibus senis, subinflatis ; aper- 

 tura submagna, subrhomboidea, intus subfusca ; labro acuto, vix sinuoso ; 

 columella purpurea, parum incurva. 



Habitat. Tuseola County, Michigan, M. Miles, State Zoologist. 



Goniobasis lithasiodes. Testa laevi, subfusiformi, cornea, evitta ; spira 

 conoidea; suturis impressis; anfractibus senis, subconstrictis, superne planu- 

 latis ; apertura grandiuscula, rhomboidea, intus albida; labro acuto, parum 

 sinuoso; columella alba, infiecta, parum contorta. 



Hab. Ohio, J. P. Kirtland, M. D. 



Goniobasis Decampii. Testa, plicata, inferne striata, valde attenuata, tenui, 

 cornea, evittata; spira subulata; suturis linearibus, impressis; anfractibus 

 instar denis, subconvexis, superne plicis aliquanto flexis ; apertura parvissima, 

 subrhomboidea, intus albida ; labro acuto, parum sinuoso ; columella albida 

 incurva et contorta. 

 ,Hab. Huntsville, Alabama, Wm. H. DeCamp, M. D., Surgeon U. S. Army. 



Goniobasis infoumis. Testa laevi, cylindrico-conica, tenebroso-cornea, evit- 



* This species is the C. ame.ricanus, or Yellow-billed Cuckoo, of Gosse. I find it, however, to be 

 quite distinct from the North American bird, and identify it with the C. dominicus, of the older 

 authors : a species generally referred to the C. seniculus, of Aud., C. minor, ot Cabanis, Baird and 

 others. (B.) 



[May, 



