XAYMACA: THE ISLAND OF MANY RIVERS 299 



Here my field-work went on uninterruptedly 

 for six weeks. A stroll through the grounds 

 revealed a variety of small birds represented in 

 numbers. There were many of our warblers 

 present, passing the winter season. The black 

 and w^hite creeper, the parula, the Cape May, the 

 black-throated blue and myrtle warblers, might 

 constantly be seen. Swainson's and the worm- 

 eating warbler, as well as the oven-bird and the 

 two kinds of water-thrushes found in eastern 

 North America, were all present. The redstart 

 was abundant, as was the Maryland yellowthroat. 

 A tiny white-eyed vireo peculiar to the island, and 

 the black and yellow honey-creeper, a small blue 

 tanager with a rufous patch on the throat called 

 the " blue quit," and the mountain bullfinch or 

 cashew-bird, were among the commoner tropical 

 insular forms. 



A small grass-green tody, with a vivid scarlet 

 throat, reminded one of his near relative the king- 

 fisher ; all the characteristic movements were the 

 same. Perched on a dead twig, only a motion of 

 the head indicated attention. The swoop from 

 the point of vantage and return to it with a luck- 

 less grasshopper or beetle were kingfisher-like in 

 all details. Then the captured prey was beaten to 

 death by the conspicuously large bill, and finally 

 a backward toss of the head accompanied the 

 swallowing of the morsel. 



