G. E. Verrill — Fauna of the Island of Domluica. 385 



The size is pretty constant but tlie shape varies more or less 

 according to the location. The usual form is cup-shaped or some 

 modification of it. When saddled on a horizontal twig the sides 

 are generally straight and when in a crotch or on an upright 

 they generally slope somewhat. The diameter across the top is 

 about 1^, three are If; the height varies from \\ to \%^ with the 

 exception of one particularly shallow one that is only f high. The 

 cavity varies in depth from \ to \^ tlie average being about 5, and 

 in diameter across the top, from % to ^. 



The mode of attachment and location is quite various. Two are 

 saddled on horizontal branches, one of them at the junction of two 

 smaller twigs ; two more are on twigs inclined' upwards at an angle 

 of about 45", one at the branching tip and the otlier at a crotch ; one 

 is in the crotch of a fern leaf, a very pretty and compact nest, 

 thickly covered with spider-web and lined with silk-cotton (Plate 

 XXVI, fig. 8.); another is fastened by the side to two twigs near their 

 junction with a larger branch ; another is fastened to the stem of 

 a drooping leaf ; and still another by its side to the stem of a vine 

 at the junction of two leaves. 



The eggs are dead white and elliptical in shape, like those of the 

 other hummers. We never found more than two in a set. One set 

 of two, taken April 13, Avere slightly incubated and measure •50X'32 

 and 51X"32; another, taken three days later, had only one egg, 

 fresh, measuring •47X'32 ; and on March 14 another nest contained 

 two badly incubated eggs, one only saved, •47x*31; and still an- 

 other taken more than a month later, April 19, also contained two 

 eggs badly incubated, so that only one was saved, measuring -45 X '31. 

 Evidently the breeding season varies much. 



Order, PASSERES. 

 Family, Tyrannid^e. 

 33. Tyrannus rostratUS Scl. "Pipiree," Pat. (from the note). 



Common locally. We found it quite plentiful at Bass-en-ville and 

 all up and down the Layou Valley, but rare in the Roseau Valley. 

 A very noisy and lively, but susi^icious l)ird. It delights to perch on 

 the top of some dead tree and utter its loud cry of " pipiree, pipiree," 

 every now and again darting into the air after some passing insect. 

 Its general habits much resemble those of our common Kingbird 

 {T. tyrannus). 



Sexes much alike. Ii-is browm; bill, legs, and feet black. ^ 10-5- 

 3^-15; 10-5-4-15; 10-4f-4-15|. ? 9^4|-3|-13^ ; 9|-4^-3j-15, 



