noble: the resident birds of Guadeloupe. 393 



the same time it jerks the tail nervously up and down just as a Spotted 

 Sandpiper does, accompanying these movements by a bobbing of its 

 head in every direction. My guides said that the small heaps of snail- 

 shells quite often found upon the forest-floor were made by this bird 

 which feeds almost entirely upon the snails. The species is so rare 

 and local that I was unable to verify this assertion. 



The Mongoose, now found in every part of the island, has almost 

 exterminated it. The greater part of my time on the island was 

 spent in the deep woods where only a few were found. If one moves 

 very quietly to a suitable place for "squeaking" this bird may be 

 easily induced to come within gunshot, but I have never heard it 

 utter any answering call except and only rarely a low guttural sound. 

 The coloration and actions of this bird are in keeping with its environ- 

 ment. Its uniform dark plumage makes it invisible among the dark, 

 decaying leaves of the forest-floor, while its silent flitting to and fro 

 are in harmony with the great hush of a tropical jungle. The peculiar 

 trembling habit is probably some sort of a warning motion, but during 

 this action the bird is not very unlike a bunch of dried leaves shaking 

 in the wind. 



44. CiCHLHERMiNiA HERMiNiERi (Lafrcsnayc). 



Cichlherminia coryi Ridgway. 

 Grive a Pieds Jaunes. 



Twenty-four specimens from the region about Ste. Rose and Goyave 

 taken during the latter part of July and August. 



This series of specimens together with Lafresnaye's and Ridgway's 

 types make it clear that Cichlherminia coryi Ridgway (Smiths, misc. 

 coll., 1904, 47, p. 112) is the adult oi Cichlherminia herminieri (Lafr.). 

 These specimens show a gradual change from one to the other kind 

 of plumage, a change which is undoubtedly one of age. Lafresnaye's 

 original labels for the types of these two species show that all the 

 birds came from Guadeloupe. The specimens were sent to Lafresnaye 

 by Dr. F. L'Herminier in 1844, and are now together with their 

 original labels in the M. C. Z. 



Ober (Proc. U. S. N. M., 1878, 1, p. 452) in his field-notes on this 

 bird writes : — 



" A resident of the wooded hills and mountains; found in Dominica 



