10 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM [vol.82 



of solitaries, the sharp-shinned hawks of its forests, the swallows and 

 swifts that play over the mountain slopes, and the variety of other 

 birds that are constantly about are of perennial and never-failing 

 interest. The little observation that has been carried on there has 

 been on Macaya and La Grande Colline. In addition to further 

 investigations of the birds of these mountains there still remain the 

 dark forests of Formon, known at present scientifically only to the 

 botanists Ekman and Barker, who cut a trail to the summit and there 

 collected plants. 



THE BIRDS OF ILE A VACHE 



lie a Vache, between 10 and 12 kilometers distant from the main 

 shore, opposite the town of Aux Cayes, is about 12 kilometers long by 

 5 or a little more wide. The shoreline is irregular, being cut by several 

 bays. The western end is elevated and rolling, with low hills, partly 

 cultivated and partly in scrub, none of the tracts of forest being 

 extensive. The eastern section is low and swampy and has not been 

 carefully investigated. There are no doubt several swamp-loving 

 birds still to be reported from this area. The Parish-Smithsonian 

 Expedition of 1930 made the first collections on this island, their 

 studies ^ being so interesting as to make it desirable to do further work. 

 Our stay was productive, adding a number of forms to the previously 

 known list. 



The bullfinch {Loxigilla violacea parishi) and the palm tanager 

 (Phaenicophilus poliocephalus tetraopes) are peculiar, differing slightly 

 from those of the main island. In view of the proper ecologic condi- 

 tions that exist, it is curious to note the absence of such species as 

 todies, woodpeckers, and palm-chats, to mention only a few among 

 the forms endemic on the main island so closely adjacent. The 

 known bird Ust now totals 54 forms, as follows: 



Antillean grebe Podilymbus podiceps antillarum. 



Yellow-billed tropic-bird Phaethon lepturus cateshyi. 



West Indian brown pelican Pelecanus occidentalis occidentalis. 



Frigate-bird Fregata magnijicens rothschildi. 



Louisiana heron Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis. 



Little blue heron Florida caerulea caerulescens. 



West Indian green heron Butorides virescens maculatus. 



Yellow-crowned night heron Nydanassa violacea violacea. 



West Indian tree-duck Dendrocygna arbor ca. 



West Indian red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis jamaicensis. 



Ridgway's hawk Buieo ridgwayi. 



Osprey Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. 



Hispaniolan sparrow hawk Falco sparverius dominicensis . 



Hispaniolan clapper rail Rallus longirostris vafer. 



Antillean gallinule Gallinula chloropus portoricensis . 



1 Wetmore, A., Birds collected in Cuba and Haiti by the Parish-Smithsonian Expedition of 1930. Proc. 

 U.S.Nat. Mus., vol. 81, art. 2, July 22, 1932, pp. 1-40; pis. 1-7. 



