40 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM [vol.82 



TACHORNIS PHOEMCOBIA PHOENICOBIA Gosso 



Palm Swift 

 Tachornis phoenicobia Gosse, Birds of Jamaica, 1847, p. 58 (Jamaica). 



This tiny swift was observed at many localities in the lower altitudes 

 visited, being conspicuous where it occurred because of its rapid cours- 

 ing across the sky. It was first noted over the trees near the Hotel 

 Splendide in Port-au-Prince on March 22 and 23 ; and was recorded 

 regularly there until our departure at the end of May. Two were 

 observed near our stopping place at Deron on April 8 and 9, one was 

 recorded at Bois Lacombe on April 23, one at Les Glaces on April 24, 

 and one at Camp Perrin on April 26. On lie a Vache a few were 

 noted and one was taken on April 28. Inland from Jacmel, near the 

 highway, on May 5 we found fully 60 of these birds circling with low, 

 wheezy calls about the drooping fronds of an isolated royal palm. The 

 birds were obviously nesting there in a colony, and six that we col- 

 lected were in breeding condition. On May 7, in traveling by auto- 

 mobile from San Juan to Azua, Dominican Republic, we recorded a 

 few, and on May 8 and 18 found them common at Barahona. On 

 May 9 a number were noted at La Cienaga 15 kilometers south of 

 Barahona, where they circled in little openings along a dry wash. 

 Two were taken. On Beata Island on May 12 we saw one coursing 

 over an open saline, and were greatly amused when a mango humming- 

 bird, almost as large as the swift, darted up and pursued it for some 

 distance with the swift circling in confusion to escape. On May 19 

 we observed a number in the desert area north of Habanero and 

 wondered if they chose some other nesting site here, since there were 

 no palms. 



Family TROCHILIDAE, Hummingbirds 



MELLISUGA MINIMA VIELLOTI (Shaw) 



HisPANioLAN Vervain Hummingbird 

 Trochilus Vielloti Shaw, Gen Zool., vol. 8, pt. 1, 1812, p. 347 (Hispaniola) . 



On the Morne des Mammelles, at Terrier Rouge, Haiti, we found 

 a few of these hummingbirds on March 27, 28, and 30, and collected 

 one on March 28. One was recorded at Deron on April 8, and one 

 was seen at 1,250 meters elevation near our camp on Pic de Macaya 

 on April 18. Another was recorded at Amiel below the high ridge 

 at Desbarriere on April 23. On lie a Vache one was observed on 

 April 29, and a female was taken on April 30. On the latter date a 

 boy at our camp caught a young bird just from the nest. 



RICCORDIA SWAINSONII (Lesson) 



HisPANiOLAN Emerald Hummingbird 



Ornismya swainsonii Lesson, Hist. Nat. Ois.-mouches, 1829, p. 197, pi. 70 

 (Hispaniola). 



