42 MEMOIRS OF THE XUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 



small band left at Ariguanabo. They pass the day in the great maciales, 

 or bulrush beds, and fly forth at night to feed on the pahnichi, the racemose 

 fruit of the royal palms. About the Cienaga, and in retired situations 

 of the less densely populated coastal regions, they still are abundant, 

 retreating to the inner fastnesses of some swamp by day but at night 

 sallying out to visit the palm groves in the cultivated plantations. The 

 characteristic monosyllabic whistle is very agreeable and is mimicked by 

 the native hunters to decoy the birds. The flesh is excellent, it is one of the 

 most delicious of all game birds. However, it is one of the birds to which 

 the market certainly should be closed, although of late years but very 

 few are received. 



49. Dendrocygna viduata (Linne). 

 Black-masked Tree Duck. 



A very rare accidental visitor. Gundlach recorded four secured in the 

 market at Santiago de Cuba, but gave no date. He also believed that 

 once one was killed in the Zapata Swamp. 



50. Chen hyperboreus nivalis (Forster). 

 Greater Snow Goose; Guanana. 



Formerly an abundant winter visitor, arriving in October and staying 

 until spring in the Zapata Swamp. Gundlach notes that the newly arrived 

 birds are usually not very shy, and that year after year they pass to and 

 fro over the same route from roost to feeding ground. A famous local 

 hunter at Aguada de Pasajeros, Francisco Llorente by name, has told me, 

 on many occasions on different visits, that Geese were fast growing very 

 rare. During very many visits I have seen only three or four small family 

 bands in flight over the Swamp. 



