during a Cruise in the Caribbean Sea. 329 



HOLOQUISCALUS INSULARIS RiclirQOiid. 



Quiscalus insiilaris Kiclimoiul, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xviii. 

 p. 675 (1896). 



Holoquiscalus insularis Ridgway, Proc. Wash. Ac. Sci. iii. 

 p. 151 (1901). 



Five males aud three females. 



We met with many examples of this insular form, which 

 has thoroughly estahlished itself on the island. Strangely 

 enough, it is not found on Blanquilla, which is only ten miles 

 away — at any rate, I have never seen a single specimen there 

 during three visits. 



The differences between this form and Holoquiscalus 

 lugubris which inhabits the mainland are only slight ; the 

 males are rather larger, and the females differ in the much 

 lighter brownish-grey colour of the throat, while the back 

 and head are also lighter. 



Mr. Richmond says that the colour and pattern of colo- 

 ration in the female are very similar to those of the female 

 of Molothrus ater, but are slightly darker. 



The average measurements of my birds are as follows : — 



Two of my males are not fully adult. They are much 

 browner above and below than adult birds, and some of the 

 quill-feathers are almost pure hair-brown. All my specimens 

 are in poor plumage, and the wings and tails are somewhat 

 worn. These birds are apparently fond of a little animal 

 diet, for I watched a female trying for a long time to break 

 the egg of a Ganuet which had just left its nest. It kept 

 persistently hammering at the egg with its bill, and on 

 being driven away quickly returned to the nest and 

 commenced operations again. I saw them feeding on 

 the flowers of the Agave, in the calyces of which they 

 apparently find many insects attracted by the honey. In 



