94 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Quite a large series of this species from the various West Indian Islands 

 show a considerable variation in the amount of black in male birds ; nothing- 

 characteristic of the different islands, however, for, in specimens from each, 

 individuals are to be found agreeing in every respect with the stages de- 

 scribed above. 



Habits. The Black-faced Finch of Jamaica and other West India Islands 

 claims a place in the fauna of the United States as an occasional visitant of 

 Florida ; of how common occurrence on that peninsula we cannot deter- 

 mine. It was taken there in the spring of 1871 by Mr. Maynard, and is 

 possibly an accidental rather tlian a regular visitant. It is found in many 

 of the West India Islands, though being resident in their several places of 

 abode, they naturally exhibit certain characteristics as of distinct races. 

 The eggs of the St. Croix bird differ considerably from those of the Jamaica 

 one. 



The Messrs. Newton, in their account of the birds of St. Croix, mention 

 this bird as liaving a Bunting-like song, heard always very early in the 

 morning. It is said to frequent the curing-houses, hopping on the uncovered 

 sugar-hogsheads, and making a plentiful meal therefrom. It is very sociable, 

 and feeds in small flocks, mostly on the ground among the guinea-grass. 

 The crops of those dissected were usually found to contain small seeds. 

 They build domed nests in low bushes, thickets of bamboo, or among creep- 

 ers against the side of a house, seldom more than four feet from the ground, 

 composed entirely of dry grass, the interior being lined with finer materials 

 of the same. The opening is on one side, and is large for the size of the 

 nest. They breed from the middle of May to the end of July. The eggs 

 are white, spotted with red, especially at the larger end. The usual num- 

 ber of eggs is three, very rarely four. Their measurement is .65 by .50 

 of an inch. 



In Jamaica Mr. March speaks of it as the most common of the Grass 

 Finches, of which there are three other species, and as nesting at all seasons of 

 the year in low trees and bushes. Near homesteads, in building their domed 

 nests, they make use of shreds, scraps of cloth, bits of cotton, and otlier trash. 

 Their eggs, he says, are three and sometimes even six in number ; and he 

 mentions their varying both as to dimensions and coloring, which may 

 explain the difference between the eggs from St. Croix and Jamaica. Those 

 from the latter place measure .72 by .50 of an inch, and the markings are 

 more of a brown than a red color. 



Mr. Hill adds that the Grass Finch very frequently selects a shrub on 

 which tlie wasps have built, fixing the entrance close to their cells. 



Mr. Gosse states that the only note of this species is a single harsh gut- 

 tural squeak, difficult either to imitate or to describe. 



