Notes from a Traveler in the Tropics 397 



(whether dominica or albilora I could not distinguish), while in the high grass 

 between the trees were Grassquits (Tiaris) and a few Maryland Yellow- 

 throats. Large 'Red-bellied' Woodpeckers (Centurus) hopped around among 

 the bunches of fruit which they are said to puncture, though I did not catch 

 them in the act. Pitirris {Pitangus) took the place of Kingfishers, and Bobitos 

 (Blacicus) equally suggested Wood Pewees. 



A large mango overhanging the house made a one-night dormitory for a 

 flock of about fifteen Anis. I found them there early one morning, roosting so 

 closely together that a peck-measure would have covered them all. Their daily 

 range was evidently limited, and their long-drawn, whining whistle was one of 

 the most conspicuous bird-notes. It is to me one of the few thoroughly un- 

 pleasant, disagreeable birds' voices, wholly in keeping with the appearance of 

 the bird, and without one redeeming feature. 



The beautiful blue Thrush (Mimocichla) was tame and common, and cheer- 

 fully uttered a series of squawking calls exactly resembling the distress notes 

 of a captive young Robin struggling to regain its freedom. In the Bahamas 

 I have heard a closely allied species sing delightfully; but October is apparently 

 no more the song-season in Cuba than it is in the United States, and the early 

 morning hours were comparatively quiet. Ground, Zenaida, and Mourn- 

 ing Doves cooed softly; the Cuban Meadowlark sang its brief wee-chur-chee- 

 chuggle-chee, far less musical, but suggesting in tone and form the song of our 

 Eastern Meadowlark rather than that of the Western species (neglecta) ; the 

 Great Cuban Cuckoo (Saurothera) , like a Yellow-billed, but half again as long 

 and four times the bulk, sprang his weird rattle, while, at intervals, there was 

 a sudden and surprising outburst of screams and calls from a flock of rose- 

 breasted Parrots, White-crowned, climbing about in the pine trees — pines and 

 Parrots are not commonly associated. The first is here at the southern limit of 

 its sea-level range; the second goes but little farther north, but, from force of 

 circumstances, the birds frequent this tree of boreal origin more often than any 

 other. 



Seeing a little flock fly from a pine into a small tree, thinly branched, but 

 with rather dense foliage at the ends of the limbs, we decided to inspect the 

 birds at close range. At a distance of 30 yards, close examination, with and 

 without a glass, revealed only five birds, but as we clapped our hands seven- 

 teen birds flew from the tree ! 



I should like to return to the Isle of Pines in April, when the Thrushes are 

 doubtless singing and possibly thousands of north-bound migrants make it 

 their resting-place. 



Havana, October 17, iqi8 



