10 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM VOL.79 i 



Captain Beale was dove hunting he shot a cuckoo, but it was picked 

 and beheaded by a wiUing native before the captain learned what 

 had happened. The notes of this bird were similar to those of the 

 other cuckoos. 



CROTOPHAGA ANI Linnaeus 



Ani 

 Crotophaga ani Linnaexts, Syst. Nat, ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 105. (Jamaica.) 

 Two were taken on Grand Cayman, April 16 and 17, 1929. 

 This interesting species, locally known as " jew bird," was found 

 in pastures, woods, and in fact anywhere from the roadside to the 

 deepest forests. It is in good standing with the majority of people 

 where ticks are common, on account of its fondness for these trou- 

 blesome pests. 



CHORDEILES MINOR VICINUS Riley 



Bahaman nightliawk 



Chordeiles virginianus vicinus Riley, Auk, 1903, p. 432. (Long Island, 

 Bahamas.) 



A male taken on Swan Island April 19, 1929, is apparently the 

 first record of the nighthawk for this locality. This specimen meas- 

 ures as follows : Wing, 169.0 ; tail, 99.1 ; culmen from base, 6.0 ; tarsus, 

 15.3 mm. Though more bufF}'^ than some, it agrees in paler coloration 

 with many of the Bahama Island race, and is lighter than C. m,. 

 gundlachii of Cuba, which geographically is the race that might be 

 expected for a Swan Island bird. It is probably a migrant, as the 

 Bahama form comes to those islands only to breed and goes south 

 again at the approach of winter. 



A few nighthawks were seen flying over Grand Cayman the after- 

 noon of April 17 but none was taken. 



ANTHRACOTHORAX PREVOSTII HENDERSONI (Cory) 



Old Providence hummingbird 



Lampornu hendersoni Cory, Auk, 1887 p. 177. (Old Providence Island, 

 Caribbean Sea.) 



Two immature birds were taken on Old Providence Island on 

 April 23 and 24, 1929, one a male and the other not having the sex 

 determined. These are decidedly duller green, less bronzy above, 

 than any skin of ^. ;?. prevostii in similar stage seen, in addition to 

 having a smaller bill. One has the bill damaged and is otherwise 

 injured by shooting. The other, a male, has the following dimen- 

 sions : Wing, 67.0 ; tail, 35.3 ; culmen from base, 21.6 mm. This race 

 is new to the national collections. 



Hummingbirds were quite common, but did not often come near 

 enough to be collected with a small charge. The damaged specimen 



