ART. 10 BIRDS OF PINCHOT EXPEDITION FISHER AND WETMORE 15 



number of bank swallows, made an interesting sight. Evidently 

 many insects were swarming from the ground. At a distance the 

 mass of them suggested a sand whirl or smoke column broadening 

 out from a restricted base. The swallows began their attack on this 

 flight not more than a yard above the surface, rising in widening 

 circles to 20 feet or more above, when they would swing downward 

 to resume operations once again at the base of the funnel. 



MIMUS POLYGLOTTOS ORPHEUS (Linnaeus) 



Jamaican mocking bird 



Turdus Orpheus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 169. (Jamaica.) 



Two males, one female, and one with sex not marked were taken 

 on Grand Cayman Island, April 16, 1929, by A. K. Fisher and G. B. 

 Pinchot. All are adults in somewhat worn plumage. 



The mocking bird was common everywhere, both in town and in 

 the outlying districts. Oftentimes when a number were together 

 there was sure to be misunderstanding among them and a running 

 fight would ensue. Wliether this irritability was due to trespass on 

 one another's domain, appropriation of one another's food, or to 

 sexual jealousy was not evident. 



MIMUS MAGNIROSTRIS Cory 



Large-billed mocking bird 



Mimus magnirostris Cokt, Auk, 1887, p. 178." (St. Andrews Island, Carib- 

 bean Sea.) 



A female of this striking bird was secured on St. Andrews Island, 

 Caribbean Sea, April 27, 1929. It is in somewhat worn plumage. 



This mocker was the only one seen, and the song was not heard in 

 the areas which were visited. 



DUMETELLA CAROLINENSIS (Linnaeus) 



Catbird 



Muscicapa caroUnensis Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 328. 

 (Virginia or Carolina.) 



A female catbird was taken on Grand Cayman Island April 17, 

 1929. 



This familiar species was more or less common on both Grand 

 Cayman and Swan Islands, but was not seen on either Old Provi- 

 dence or St. Andrews. It was among the first to be attracted from 

 the shrubbery by a chirping noise, and, as in the north, readily 

 approached, uttering its rather discordant notes. 



" Though this appiears in the number for July, an author's edition of this description 

 was published May 28, 1887. 



