37G bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



within easy reach of even a beast which is strictly terrestrial. But the 

 Perdrix Croissant is still locally abundant in many of the mountainous 

 parts of Guadeloupe. Like the other species, it is a rain forest 

 bird, frequenting the dense wet undergrowths. The dense woods, 

 however, form an easy approach for the Mongoose. But the Perdrix 

 Croissant seems to be slowly adapting itself to new conditions. To- 

 wards evening small flocks fly down from the mountains to feed with 

 the Tourterelles and Ortolans in the open clearings about the old 

 cane-fields. My guides informed me that this habit had been re- 

 cently acquired. It certainly helps to protect the birds from the 

 stealthy approach of a Mongoose. 



The Perdrix Croissant is ranked throughout Guadeloupe, as one of 

 the best game-birds. The natives formerly caught them with hoops 

 fitted with' wire snares, and brought great numbers to market. During 

 my stay on the island I never saw a single Perdrix sold in a village 

 market. 



19. CoccYZUS minor DOMINIC ae Shelley. 

 Coucou Manioc. Oiseau de Pluie. 



Four adults from Ste. Rose, July 13th-19th, six adult and half- 

 grown specimens from Goyave, August 20th, September 1st. 



I have compared a series of eight specimens from Dominica with 

 eight adults from Guadeloupe and have not been able to find any 

 appreciable difference between them. My Guadeloupe birds, in spite 

 of the fact that they are in the worn summer plumage, seem to be a 

 trifle darker than the Dominica birds and they also average slightly 

 larger. But I prefer to regard this rather a tendency toward differ- 

 entiation than a real racial distinction. The Guadeloupe birds mea- 

 sure: — wing 142.62; tail 163.69; exposed culmen 29.14; tarsus 

 29.74. 



Locally distributed throughout the lower uplands of Guadeloupe, 

 the Cuckoo is a conspicuous bird because of its slow and clumsy move- 

 ments. It is confined to the low wooded hills, and not met with at 

 all in the Mangrove swamps where I had been led to expect it. 



The only cry I heard was a resonant guttural chuckle. On dull 

 days this peculiar call is often heard in the hills. The natives believe 

 the call to be a sure sign of heavy rain and hence they call the bird 

 rOiseau de Pluie. 



