\OZ MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 



it. It belongs to a group characteristic of dr>' and arid country. Its fine 

 song makes it a favorite cage-bird in Caibarien and Remedies. 



It is a large species, darker than the Cuban mainland form. 



It may well be noted here, also, that Todd (1. c, p. 251) has mentioned 

 a single example of the North American Mockingbird shot on the Isle of 

 Pines, though so far it never has been secured in Cuba. 



188. Dumetella carolinensis (Liiine). 

 Catbird; Zorzal Gato. 



The Catbird arrives in Cuba in October and remains until May. It 

 is one of the most characteristic and familiar birds about hedgerows and 

 thickets during its sojourn. It is found even in the heavy woods, but by 

 and large its habits are much the same as when it is in the North. 



189. Myiadestes elizabeth elizabeth (Lembeye). 

 Cuban Solitaire; Ruisenor. 



The Ruisenor of the Cubans is well named, for no bird of the Americas 

 can wear more worthily the style of 'nightingale.' Picture, If you please, a 

 hot and misty dawn, high cliffs with tangled jungle and towering palms. 

 The night and rain have given way to the coppery rising sun which makes 

 each avid clamberer stop willingly to sweat and pant. Suddenly, -as the 

 sunlight strikes into a dark ravine, a long, repeated crescendo of such 

 unearthly beauty rings out that one sinks down to rest and drink in the 

 rising flood of antiphonal music. Far and wide, from ridge to higher peak, 

 another bird and then another answering, ring out the limpid, flute-like 

 notes, so serene and yet so sad. 



The Cuban Solitaire is a bird of the high limestone mountains. 

 Gundlach likens the tone of Its song to the sound produced by rubbing 

 one's wet finger along the lip of a fragile wine-glass — not a bad comparison. 

 The males move but little when singing, and skilful natives catch a few each 

 year by touching the songster's back with a dab of birdlime on the end of a 

 very long wand, and thus secure it. 



