288 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP 



and are then shot in great numbers for the table. Early in October, gene- 

 rally within the first three or four days, they depart, taking a southwesterly 

 direction, leaving, however, many of their numbers, no doubt composed of 

 the permanent residents or the late nestlings ; and many more, meeting with a 

 plentiful supply of their favorite food in some localities, are tempted to re- 

 main. Soon after the departure of the migratory flocks, those remaining 

 resume their accustomed haunts, both in the highlands and lowlands, where, 

 in solitary pairs, they occupy, as their particular domain, some lofty tree, in 

 the possession of which they remain till the following August, permitting no 

 intruder to interfere with their occupation. The cocoanut palm is often 

 selected by them from its being usually the most lofty. The migrants, on 

 their return in the spring, usually the end of March, or early in April, (the 

 period varying in different localities, ) gradually disperse, and, like the resident 

 birds, occupy their selected tree in solitary pairs. They immediately commence 

 the work of nidification. In St. Catharine's, the first nest I have found was 

 on the 14th of April, and the latest about the same date in July. They sel- 

 dom build in their perch tree, selecting generally some lower tree near to it ; 

 some make their nests high, others low, usually at the extremity of a lateral 

 branch of the cashaws, (Prosopis juliflora and Acacia tortuosa ;) the nest is 

 a rather loose structure of twigs and stems of trailing plants, with the cup 

 of fibre, grass, or horse-hair, frequently of all intermixed. They lay three, 

 rarely four, long oval eggs, measuring from 1^ by f or 13-16ths of an inch, 

 clayish white, or light cream-color, dashed principally round the large end, 

 some thickly, others more sparingly, with blotches and spots of burnt sienna. 

 and slaty or pale bistre cloudings beneath. 



49. Tyrannus ca0difasciatus. The Loggerhead is found, though not so 

 abundant as the Petchary, in all parts of the island ; when the latter congre- 

 gate in September, previous to their leaving the island, they are joined by 

 this species ; these, however, are permanent residents, and do not emigrate. 

 The Loggerhead is never willingly shot by the sportsman, as it seldom puts 

 on even a slight degree of fat, though it is sometimes mistaken for its con- 

 gener and thus falls a victim bj its unfortunate association. Their habits 

 are in most respects those of the Petchary ; the nest is of the same size, 

 formed of similar materials, and built in similar situations ; it usually lays 

 three, rarely four, oval eggs, light drab or dark cream-color, dashed as those 

 of the Petchary, with burnt ochre and slaty markings, and are more uni- 

 formly 1 by | of an inch. 



I have specimens without the occipital crest. 



50. Myiakchus validus, Cab. (Tyrannus crinitus, Gosse.) The Red Petch- 

 ary of the South and the Red Loggerhead of the mountains and Western 

 districts agrees with the common Loggerhead in its general habits, except 

 that of association ; it is always found solitary, or in pairs ; in its nidification 

 it is totally different ; the nest, like that of the other Myiarchi and smaller 

 fly-catchers, is a slight matting of twigs and leaves, lined with cow's or 

 goat's hair, placed in a fork or indentation or decayed hollow near the top 

 of a tree, wherever a convenient lodgment for the materials is found, and 

 sometimes on the decaying summit of the tree ; never in a deep hollow. It 

 lays three or four, sometimes five, longish oval eggs, 1 T 3 g by $ of an inch, 

 clayish white, splashed with spots and scratches, and about the large end 

 with blotches of Vandyke-brown, and pale sepia, and slaty spots. 



47. Myiakchus stolidus. Of the three species of fly -catchers known here 

 as Tom Fools* for I believe the three to be distinct the black-cap Tom Fool 



* Mr. March has transmitted specimens of all his three supposed species of smaller Jamaican 

 Myiarchi; but I am not at present prepared to pass judgment upon their claims to distinctive 

 rank. S. F. B. _._ 



[Nov. 



