84 Mr. B. Alexander — Expedition 



found it, however, most abundant at La Catrina, where we 

 obtained a fine series. The favourite resort of these birds is 

 a grove of tall coconut-trees, in the tops of which they build 

 their nests, and owing to this the species has gained the name 

 of " Coconut-bird " from the natives. The flight is very 

 straight and steady, and a clear musical chirp is often 

 uttered on the wing. They cause a considerable amount of 

 damage to the oranges, in which they drill big holes. The 

 number of males predominates over the females to a large 

 extent. 



12. Passer jagoensis. 



Gould described this species as being peculiar to Santiago, 

 but it has now become distributed throughout the whole 

 group, though in nothing like such great numbers as in 

 Santiago. We observed large flocks in the valleys and 

 on the plains, and especially near the sea. These were 

 chiefly composed of immature birds, the males showing a 

 slight indication of the black patch on the throat, the 

 feathers of the upper parts dark brown margined with light 

 rufous, and a broad stripe of the latter colour over each eye. 

 With the beginning of February the adults had commenced 

 to undergo their spring moult, their plumage being anything 

 but satisfactory in condition, and even by the end of May 

 there were many which had some of their tail-feathers and 

 primaries still in sheath. These Sparrows often fall victims 

 to the Kite, and as a better safeguard against surprise they 

 seek safety in numbers, coming together in immense flocks, 

 and never getting far away from some good thick acacia- 

 tree wherein to take refuge, or from the vicinity of a ravine 

 strewn with boulders, into the cre\dces of which they creep 

 like mice. 



On March 28th, while at Praya, the Governor-General 

 sent us a specimen for preservation. The upper mandible 

 was totally malformed, being twisted almost round the lower 

 one. The bird was in good condition, but how it could have 

 obtained food appeared a mystery. 



In August these Sparrows breed in large companies, many 

 of the acacia-trees on the plains being crammed with their 



