106 



not the G. ani, and as it may be an undescribed species I append 

 a description of it : — Sexes similar, — general appearance like the 

 other species of the genus. Plumage above, wings and tail dark 

 black with purplish reflection, and in some lights greenish. The 

 tail very obscurely banded, as if watered. Below, dull brownish 

 black ; the borders of the feathers of all the upper parts, wing 

 coverts, throat, and upper part of head iridescent. Bill blackish 

 horn color, the edge and tip of culmen light horn color. Tarsi 

 and feet black. Length,* .315; wing from flexure, .143; tail, 

 .184; tarsus, .032; middle toe, .034, its claw, .012; hind toe, 

 .013, its claw, .0105 ; bill along ridge, .034; gape, .028 ; height 

 of bill, .020 ; breadth of bill, .008 ; nostrils, diagonal, .004 in 

 length by .002 in breadth ; the superior edge nearly straight, 

 and the inferior concave; situated .01 from the culmen and .004 

 from the lower edge of mandible ; 4th quill longest ; 3d equal to 

 the 5th ; 2d, .012 shorter than 4th ; 1st, .035 shorter than 4th, 

 and shorter than any other of the primaries. 



Saurothera vetula. Quite abundant, called Rain- Crow. Its 

 food during the winter consisted principally of a species of Phasma, 

 found in great abundance in the leaves of the air-plants. This 

 bird is one of the tamest, considering its size, that I am acquainted 

 with. I have frequently watched them searching for insects 

 within two or three feet of my head. 



Picus villosus. Two specimens seen at Nassau in the month 

 of February. 



Picus varius. Two specimens seen during February, and a 

 number during the spring months. They seemed to prefer the 

 cocoa-nut trees. I did not see them on any other tree. The first 

 pair seen visited the same clump of cocoa-nut trees every day for 

 a fortnight. 



Trochilus Bahamensis. This species of humming-bird, which I 

 believe to be undescribed, is the only one found at Nassau and 

 neighboring islands. It is quite abundant there and a constant 

 resident. All the specimens I procured, seven in number, were 

 killed in February and the early part of March ; at that time its 



* All the measurements given are in parts of a metre, and the height and 

 breadth of bill, when not otherwise mentioned, are always taken opposite the 

 centre of the nostrils. 



