37 



notice, and Mexico, a great identity of genera and species might be 

 expected. Placed in the šame degree of latitude. possessing many 

 similar features in sceuery, elevation, temperature and productions, 

 ■with sufficient facility of communication for the feathered tribes, 

 they might, \vithout actual examination, be considered as constitu- 

 ting the šame animal kingdom or province. But Mexico is united 

 to the Southern portion of the continent by land, while Jamaica is 

 separated by leagues of sea, a great natūrai impediment to families 

 possessing feeble povvers of flight. 



■VVilson remarks that " in passing along the chain of the Bahamas, 

 tOAvards the West Indies, no great difficulty can occur from the fre- 

 quency of these islands, nor even to the Bermudas, which are said 

 to be six hundred miles from the nearest point of the continent." 

 "VVhether this facihty of communication between the United States 

 and the greater Antilles may be sufficient to account for the greater 

 preponderance of species from this division than from the southern, 

 may by some be doubted ; but it may be as well to bear in mind that 

 the Raptores and long-winged famiUes of the Insessores are common 

 both to the States and Antilles, -n-hile the short-\vinged families are 

 nearly all distinct. 



There are many features of resemblance between the ornithology 

 of Mexico and the great Antilles. Nearly all the birds common to 

 the former and the United States are likewise found in Jamaica, 

 wliile the latter possesses species supposed by Mr. Swainson to be 

 peculiar to ]VIexico, and I believe that further investigation will tend 

 to show that the distribution of species is very similar. 



I will only make one remark, that many birds supposed to belong 

 to the States are in reality tropical or West Indian, and merely very 

 transient and in numerous instances accidental visitors to North 

 America. For example, the Columba Zenaida is very rare in the 

 States, while in Jamaica it is the most abundant species in the island, 

 and was mentioned by Sir Hans Sloane. 



I will pass over the migration of birds to and from the West In- 

 dies, as well as the infiuence that natūrai families of plants appearing 

 in distant countries may have in producing it, as being beyond the 

 limits Avhich I have assigned to myself in these observations. I ■will 

 now give a catalogue of all the birds that I have met with during a 

 sojourn of six years in Jamaica, during which time my leisure hours 

 have been constantly devoted to pursuits connected with natūrai 

 history. 



Birds common to Jamaica, Cuba, and the United States. 

 Land Birds. 



1 . Cathartes aura. 6. Pandion haliaetus (? carolinen- 



2. Buteo borealis. sis.) 



3. Circus americanus. 7. Strix flammea. 



4. Haliaetus niger. 8. asio. 



5. Accipiter pensylvanicus. 9. Hirundo fulva. 



