332 G. E> Verrill — Fauna of the Island of Dominica. 



Sexes much alike, but the male rather brighter than his mate. 

 Iris, bill, leg, and feet black. As in the last species the length of 

 the bill is very variable. The measurement given in all cases is the 

 chord of the exposed culmen. 5 4f-2^-lj'L-5|, bill -80; 4|-2y''^-lJg, 

 bill -82; 4^-2^-l|, bill -96. $41-21-1^^-6, bill 1.01. 



"Nest generally a deep pouch-shaped structure fastened by one side to a perpen- 

 dicular twig, generally at some height (20-40 feet), from the ground." — (a. it. y.) 



Five nests are in the collection. 



One taken at Laudat, April 10, contained no eggs, is pouch-shaped, 

 fastened to the upright stalk of a plant, and is composed of the fine, 

 brown scales from ferns, mentioned above, with a number of pieces 

 of bark and leaves, from the plantain and banana plants, hung 

 loosely on the outside, the whole being bound together by cobweb. 

 It is '2\ high and H in diameter at the top, continuing the same size 

 to within an inch of the bottom and from there tapering down to a 

 point. The cavity is 1 f deep and f in diameter. 



The second was taken March 28, and contained two j^oung. This 

 is like the last except that it is completely covered with pieces of 

 plantain or banana bark and leaves. It is 2^ high and 1^ in diameter 

 across the top, sloping gradually down to the bottom, which is f 

 across. The cavity is 1^ deep and 1 in diameter across the top. 

 Plate XXVI, fig. 2. 



The third, taken April 13th, contained two fresh eggs. It is cup- 

 shaped, saddled on a small twig inclined upwards at an angle of 

 about 30°, and is composed like the two already described. It meas- 

 ures 1^ across the top and is Ij high. The cavity is f across the 

 top and f deep. The eggs are dead white, elliptical in shape, and 

 measure '51 X*34 and -SOX "35. Plate xxv, fig. 2. 



The fourth, taken April 15th, also contained two fresh eggs. It 

 is cup-shaped and composed like the former ones but w'ith a little 

 down from the silk-cotton tree for inside lining^ and very few pieces 

 of banana and plantain leaves on the ontside. It is 2^ high and 1^ 

 across the top, sloping down to a point at the bottom. The cavity 

 is f deej) and ^ in diameter. The eggs are like the above and meas- 

 ure •46X-29 and -47X30. 



The last nest contain* two eggs. It is cup-shaped and composed 

 like the third. It measures 1^ high and 1§ across the top. The 

 cavity is f deep and 1 across the top. The eggs measure •5lX'33 

 and 'SIX '34, color and shape like the former ones. Plate xxvi, fig. 1. 



