376 ANNUAL KEPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 19 3 



Not less than 90 per cent of its time during the day was devoted 

 to calling. No bird I have ever heard approaches Legatus in the con- 

 tinuity with which its notes are uttered. Morning, noon, or after- 

 noon it was the exception, when consciously listening, not to hear the 

 voice of Legatus. Both sexes call, but the male seems to be the more 

 vociferous and, when incubating, the female is apparently silent. 



Their usual note is " pee-ee " with a suggestion of the phoebe's 

 {Sayornis phoebe) tons. To this is often added " teedle-dee-dee." 

 There is also a " twee-twee-twee-twee," etc., uttered continuously, with 

 closed bill, for as much as a minute. The female frequently uttered 

 this note while the male called " pee-ee, teodle-dee-dee." During 

 attacks on Zarhynchus both sexes utter an excited, reedy twittering 

 and chattering. 



Legatus evidently considers itself a member of the Zarhynchus 

 colony and, although its motives are unworthy, it often attacks Cas- 

 sldix more zealousl}^ than does the owner of the nest which that bird 

 seeks to enter. 



Since it is evident that Legatus plays an important part in the 

 nest life of Zarhynchus I give the more significant of my observations 

 concerning it as a contribution to our knowledge of their relation- 

 ships, which, as will be seen, are as yet by no means clearly under- 

 stood. In 192G Legatus was first noted in the nest tree on January 

 29, 21 days after nest building began, but it was not until February 9 

 that I realized the object of its presence. I quote from my records of 

 that date : 



It is evident that Legatus is interested in the Zarhynchus nests. Two of these 

 birds have attached a claim to two detached nests at the left side of the tree 

 and fiercely attack their owners, often driving them from their own doorstep. 

 The poor oropendola sits humbly in the protection of the leaves waiting for a 

 chance to enter her own homo and in spite of the swinging onslaughts of Legatus 

 finally succeeds by a dash. I have not seen Legatus enter either nest but tliey 

 examine the opening and perch at the point to which the nest is woven with an 

 unmistakable air of proprietorship. "What is their object? 



These birds were under observation until February 20 when I 

 left the island for the season. They eventually focused their atten- 

 tion on one of the two nests, called in my notes No. 1. On February 

 17 for the first time one entered this nest remaining three seconds, 

 to which Zarhynchus still asserted ownership by also entering for 

 the night, both Legatus then going to the forest. On the 19th at 

 12.05, after Zarhynchus left the nest, one Legatus entered and re- 

 mained for five or six seconds. Both the flycatchers were about the 

 nest the greater part of the day; at 3.25 Zarhynchus tried to enter 

 it but was driven off and at 5.20 Legatus came from the forest and 

 with almost no hesitation flew directly into the nest, remaining for 

 10 or 12 seconds. At 4.40 the flycatcher was in the nest for 15 seconds 



