BIRDS OF CUBA 1 29 



in every dry hedgerow and thicket all the year through. For while they 

 nest during every month of the year, and Broolcs and I have found fully 

 fledged young in January, February and March, still the birds which are 

 not paired for immediate nesting are banded into the little itinerant 

 companies that never fail to thrill the newcomer to el campo de Cuba. 



These little Grassquits are small, olive-gray, sparrow-like ground 

 Finches with very short tails and with a black mask and cheek and a yellow 

 spot on the throat. 



268. Tiaris canora (Gmelin). 

 Melodious Grassquit; Tomeguin del Pinar. 



Why the Melodious Grassquit, which does not sing, should be called 

 by the Cubans Tomeguin del Pinar, I cannot say. The Spanish name is 

 fully as inapt as the English, as it implies that the bird lives in the pinares or 

 pine lands, which is entirely incorrect. While it is more common in western 

 Cuba than elsewhere, I have specimens from Luis Lazo and Holguin, and 

 from Lake Ariguanabo and Guaro on Nipe Bay. It is far less abundant 

 than the other Grassquit, but often is seen associated with it in flocks, 

 as well as banding by itself. Both species are similar in habits, make ideal 

 cage pets and, be the aviary large, both will breed in captivity. 



It is easily distinguished from the Common Grassquit by having 

 much yellow on the sides of the neck, indeed tufts of long feathers, and a 

 yellow stripe behind the eye. 



269. Melopyrrha nigra (Linne). 

 Cuban Black Finch; Negrito. 



A rather common and quite active and engaging little tramp, fond of 

 the dusty tangles and thickets in dr)-- pastures and arid fields. Gundlach 

 speaks of their moving about in small companies, and often in company 

 with other birds, but this is the very reverse of my experience. The Negrito 

 sings nicely and thrives in captivity, and while probably as abundant today 

 as ever it was, still it is now certainly inclined to be rather shy and solitary. 



An unmistakable little Finch, deep black with white axillars, under 

 wing-coverts and inner webs of primaries and secondaries, which are very 

 conspicuous in flight. 



