50 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.79 



shrubbery and do not flush easily. They were observed only on 

 Charles and Albemarle Islands. The specimens taken back of Post- 

 office Bay were in thick vegetation along a dry wash, and were 

 secured when they happened to cross the open space. One or two 

 cuckoos were seen at another part of Charles Island, and one flew 

 from a thick clump of bushes on Albemarle and subsequently could 

 not be found. 



ASIO GALAPAGOENSIS (Gould) 



Galapagos short-eared owl 



Otus (Brachyotus) galapayocnsis Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1837, p. 10. 

 (Galaptigos Islands.) 



A female obtained on Tower Island in the Galapagos, June 15, 

 1929, has the following measurements : Wing, 285.0 ; tail, 145.8 ; 

 culmen with cere, 30.0; tarsus, 48.7 mm. 



This owl was seen on Tower, Daphne and Albermarle Islands, 

 and pellets, which were assumed to be from this bird as they con- 

 tained rat remains, were found at other places. Like our North 

 American species this owl is diurnal and was seen flying in broad 

 daylight. 



COLLOCALIA OCISTA Oberholser 



Marquesan swiftlet 



Collocalia ocista Oberholser, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 190G, p. 

 184. (Nukuhiva, Marquesas Islands.) 



A series of eight was obtained at Uahuka in the Marquesas Islands 

 September 19, 20, 21, and 23, 1929. Measurements of specimens with 

 the sex indicated are as follows : Male, wing, 120.4 ; tail, 58.7 ; culmen 

 from base, 4.9; tarsus, 9.0 mm. Two females, wing, 110.7, 118.0; 

 tail, 58.3, 58.7; culmen from base, 4.8, 5.2; tarsus, 10.0, 9.0 mm. 



Two specimens were placed in alcohol for anatomical material. 



This interesting swift was observed in Hivaoa, Uahuka, Nuku- 

 hiva, and Eiao. It also undoubtedly occurs on Fatuhiva but did 

 not happen to come under observation there. Two were killed on 

 Hivaoa, but could not be found in the thick undergroAvth where they 

 had fallen. If we had had such willing helpers as the keen-eyed 

 little natives at Fatuhiva and the Tuamotu Islands, there is little 

 doubt that the birds would have been located. The swifts were 

 more general on Uahuka, in coconut groves, along the open hill- 

 sides, over the tops of bare ridges, and across the faces of steep 

 cliffs. In the crevices of the cliffs they presumably had their nests. 

 Their flight was usually rapid, resembling that of our chimney 

 swift, but at times when they found slow-going insects in the shade 

 of coconut groves they were much slower and more bat-like in their 

 fliffht. 



