PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 355 



" Prefers the skirts of woods and open fields, utters a sharp whistle, 

 not very loud, and flits fiom bush to tree in low flight. Rather abun- 

 dant at Trois Islets on the hillsides. More numerous than 1 found it in 

 Dominica ; even plentiful in the low scmb, or second growth, that cov- 

 ered the hillsides upon old plantations.'' 



Fam. FRINGILLID^. 



15. Loxigilla noctis (Linu.). 

 " ' Pere noir.^ ' Moisson.^ 



"Length, J, 5i in.; alar extent, 0; wing, 3. 



" Length, 9 , 5 in. ; alar extent, 8^ ; wing, 2f . 



" In the French islands and in those in which the patois is spoken, 

 the names of this bird are the same ,• the male is called the ' Pere noir\ 

 the female the ^ moisson\ 



" They are as abundant here as any species and confined to the open 

 fields and cultivated districts without regard to altitude." 



16. I^honipara bicolor (Liuu.). 



"'Mangeur des herbes.' Seed-eater. 



"Length, 9, 4i in.; alar extent, 6.J; wing, 2. 



" The most common species, I think, in the island. Feeds principally 

 upon the seeds of grass and noxious weeds, and hence cannot be other- 

 wise than of great benefit to the island.'' 



Fam. ICTERID^. 



17. Icterus bonaua (Linu.). 



"'Carouge.' 



"Length, (?, 8 in.; alar extent, 10^; wing, 3J. 



"Length, 9. 7^ in.; alar extent, 10; wing, 3 J. 



"1 saw my first specimen of this bird at Morne Konge, another half- 

 way up the volcano of Montague Pel^e ; but did not obtain one until 

 my visit to Trois Islets, south of Fort de France. It is not in abun- 

 dance that one sees it; separately and in pairs. I found it chiefly in 

 clearings on the hills and elevated plains. It prefers the vicinity of 

 gardens and hedges, and shuns thick woods; though I have found it in 

 dense scrub. Upon the hills near Trois Islets I secured it in such a 

 situation. I was reclining beneath the shade of a low tree, one very hot 

 day ill August, looking out over the beautiful bay of Port Royal, when 

 I was suddenly brought to my feet by the shock of an earthquake, 

 which, repeated twice, startkd the birds as well as myself. Then L 

 noted for the first time this bird in the scrub beneath the trees." 



18. Quiscalus inflexirostris, 8\v. 



"'Le Merle.' Iris, ^, hazel; 9, pale yellow. 

 "Length, <?, lOj in.; alar extent, 15; wing, 5. 

 "Length, 9, 9 in.; alar extent, 13^; wing, 4A. 



