54 BULLETIN 15 5, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



where original conditions may be preserved for coming generations 

 and the continuance of plants, birds, and other animal life assured. 

 In the present stage of development there remain large areas that as 

 yet have not been commercially exploited where the original 

 xerophytic forests, rain-forests, or stands of pine remain in their 

 primitive condition, but every year sees some curtailment of this 

 condition and some new use proposed for these various types of land. 

 Establishment of park areas and forest reserves, for example in the 

 Quita Espuela district, in the high mountain area about Constanza, 

 on the ridge of La Selle, and in the La Hotte region may now be 

 made without particular difficulty. If delayed too long the timber 

 will be largely destroyed and a condition similar to that in Porto 

 Rico where it has been possible to establish only one reserve of any 

 extent, that on El Yunque, while elsewhere original conditions have 

 been largely destroyed, will result. Such park areas, set aside now 

 and guarded from fire and needless cutting, will prove valuable 

 assets for the future. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



The present account of the birds of Hispaniola is due primarily to 

 the interest of Dr. W. L. Abbott, whose untiring energy during his 

 prolonged work in the field assembled the bulk of the specimens 

 upon which our work has been based, giving to the United States 

 National Museum what is unquestionably the finest and most com- 

 plete collection of the birds of this area extant. In addition to speci- 

 mens Doctor Abbott has furnished numerous manuscript notes and 

 much oral' information on the frequent occasions on which he has been 

 consulted, either in the museum or during visits to his home in 

 Maryland. His assistance has given the greatest addition to knowl- 

 edge of the avifauna of this region that has come in the present cen- 

 tury, and has continued beyond his personal efforts in that he has 

 financed further work on the part of others. The United States 

 National Museum stands deeply indebted to him for his long and 

 continued interest. 



In work in the field in 1927 Doctor Wetmore was most hospita- 

 bly received in both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and has 

 to acknowledge many courtesies. Through the State Department 

 necessary information and other courtesies were obtained. Col. D. C. 

 McDougal, of the United States Marine Corps, gave much informa- 

 tion regarding the island as well as letters that aided most mate- 

 rially in establishing contacts in Haiti. In Port-au-Prince Doctor 

 Wetmore was received with every attention by Gen. John H. Rus- 

 sell, American High Commissioner, and was assisted further by Gen. 

 Julius Turrill, at that time Chief of the Gendarmerie d'Haiti, and 



