ABT. 10 BIRDS OF PINCHOT EXPEDITION" FISHER AND WETMORE 9 



in size and proportions and are a little larger than the Bahaman 

 form C. m. maynardi Ridg. In the color of the under parts this 

 series shows a wide range of individual variation. The darkest ones 

 are exactly like the paler specimens from Jamaica and the palest 

 ones like the darker examples of maynardi. Thus as a whole the 

 series averages a little paler below than the average of a long series 

 of nesiotes from Jamaica. All, however, were taken later in the 

 season than any skin we have from Jamaica and are without doubt 

 somewhat faded out." 



As the specimen secured by Doctor Fisher is in fresh plumage 

 there is no question as to its identity with maynardi. 



Whenever we were in the vicinity of mangrove swamps we kept a 

 sharp lookout for cuckoos, since added specimens from this island 

 were needed to work out properly the distribution of the insular 

 forms. Failing to find them in this habitat it was an agreeable 

 surprise to run across an individual in the thick, low undergrowth 

 of an abandoned or much-neglected banana plantation in a dry 

 upland stretch of country. As the bird was in dense foliage near 

 the ground, it was not recognized until it had moved toward the 

 outer edge of the clump it was occupying. It was tame and unsus- 

 pecting and did not seem to notice the approach of a stranger. 



The yellow-billed and black-billed cuckoos of the north frequently 

 utter thin " rain-crow " notes, and are heard very much more often 

 than they are seen. If this holds true for the mangrove cuckoo, it 

 must be uncommon in the localities visited, as its notes were not once 

 heard, and the individual secured was the only one seen by members 

 of the party. 



COCCYZUS MINOR ABBOTTI Stone 



Abbott's cuckoo 



Coccyzus abbotti Stone, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 51, 1899, 

 p. 301. (St. Andrews Island, Caribbean Sea.) 



An adult male was taken on Old Providence Island April 24, 

 1929. This bird has the following measurements : Wing, 135.8 ; tail, 

 165.5 ; culmen from base, 30.5 ; tarsus, 27.4 mm. It is in full, perfect 

 plumage. Superficially this specimen has the general appearance of 

 C. m. nesiotes and C. m. teres., being deep buff below like the average 

 of those races. Above it is grayer on the head and hind-neck than 

 teres., and is also characterized by larger, heavier bill. 



This race has not been represented previously in the National 

 Museum collections. 



Although cuckoos were frequently heard and glimpses were caught 

 of two or three others as they flew from thick shrubbery, the one 

 mentioned above was the only one secured. It is true that while 



