NO. 2 BIRDS OF ISLA ESCUDO DE VERAGUAS — WETMORE 13 



Family Hirundinidae: Swallows 



PROGNE SUBIS (Linnaeus): Purple Martin, Golondrina Turquina 



Hirnndo Subis Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 192. (Hudson 

 Bay.) 



On the return journey on March 2 I noted an occasional purple 

 martin flying northward, low over the water, near the mainland coast 

 from the vicinity of Plantain Cay to Chiriqui Point. These swallows 

 are known as migrants through Mexico and Central America, but little 

 is reported regarding them in Panama. The only published record 

 that has come to my attention is by Zimmer (1955, pp. 4, 5) of an 

 immature male of the southwestern subspecies, Progne subis hespcria 

 Brewster, taken at Cocoplum, Bocas del Toro, October 27, 1927. 



At Almirante on February 18, 1958, during a forenoon of nearly 

 constant rain, a band of 8 purple martins came to rest in dead branches 

 of a tall avocado tree beside our house. At intervals others arrived 

 until finally between 35 and 40 were present, resting in close forma- 

 tion. When the rain ceased and the sky became lighter two hours later 

 they disappeared. From then until March 6, 1 recorded purple martins 

 in northward flight, singly or in scattered, straggling groups, across 

 Almirante Bay, along its shoreline, or over the outer beach near 

 Boca del Drago. Occasionally a few came to rest in the tree beside 

 the house. It appears that there is a regular flight in migration along 

 the Caribbean coast. 



The female of a pair taken on February 18, in its darker color on 

 the under surface and in wing length of 148 mm., represents typical 

 Progne subis subis. The male, with the wing 149.7 nim., agrees in 

 size with that race. 



Family Troglodytidae : Wrens 



THRYOTHORUS NIGRICAPILLUS Sclater: Bay Wren, Cucarachero Castano 



Cabecinegro 



Thryothorns nigricapillus Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, pt. 28, May i860, 

 p. 84. (Nanegal, 4,000 feet elevation, Ecuador.) 



This wren (fig. 2) was the most common land bird on the island, 

 found in pairs scattered through the undergrowth. Though they were 

 encountered most often in low tangles, where creepers were matted 

 and cover was dense, they ranged also out into more open areas, and 

 at times worked up through branches and creepers into the tops of 

 the taller trees. They were quite tame, often appearing within 6 feet 

 or so. On our second day ashore the sky was overcast and it was 

 often difficult to see these birds in the darkly shadowed coverts. We 

 were usually notified of the presence of a pair by the series of repeated 



