THE BIRDS OF HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 171 



In Haiti Descourtilz says that he took specimens and describes the 

 bird as the Courlis de terre or Courre-vite, but does not say certainly 

 that he secured them within the limits of the Haitian Republic. 

 Abbott heard that the species occurred on the Plaine du Nord west 

 of Ouanaminthe, and that it was also found at Mole St. Nicolas. 

 Beebe writes that John Tee- Van saw two on the shore of the Etang 

 Saumatre March 15, 1927, and in a letter written to Wetmore says 

 further that there can be no question of the identification as the 

 birds were seen under the most favorable circumstances by one long 

 familiar with the thick-knee in captivity. Tippenhauer reports that 

 this bird was brought often from the Dominican Republic and kept 

 in captivity. According to Danforth one was seen near Gonaives 

 July 14, 1926, by R. S. Mathews. His record for Kenscoff seems 

 uncertain. Bond heard of the occurrence of this species on the 

 Northern and Central Plains. He was assured by natives that a 

 strange cackling call heard before daybreak near Acul-Samedi south 

 of Fort Liberte was this bird. He saw none during the course of 

 his work. Poole and Perrygo were told at Hinche of the Coq savanne 

 but were not able to find it and from the descriptions given them 

 were not certain of its identity. J. E. Boog-Scott says, however, 

 that he has found the bird in the vicinity of Hinche. It is possible 

 that part of the reports for Haiti, including that of Beebe, pertain 

 to introduction through escape from captivity. The definite range 

 of the species in both republics should be ascertained as accurately 

 as possible before the thick-knee is crowded out of existence by 

 increase in agriculture. 



The bucaro is a bird that inhabits open plains and prairies and 

 is found in pairs or family groups. It is terrestrial and seldom 

 flies, and in fact is so quiet that it seems almost stolid. It runs 

 quickly at need but after a short distance stops and remains without 

 movement for long periods so that it is difficult to detect. Wetmore 

 traveled long distances through its haunts without seeing one at 

 freedom. 



The bucaro is kept by many people in patios and corrals for its 

 services in eating roaches and vermin of all kinds, and it is thus in 

 considerable demand. Wetmore was told that both adults and young 

 were sold in the markets at from fifteen to thirty cents each. Adults 

 had one wing clipped when first captured and, though never tame in 

 the sense that they permitted themselves to be handled, became fear, 

 less and remained after they had regained the power of flight at the 

 next molt. They are usually kept in pairs and are said at times to 

 breed in the state of loose captivity in which they were held. Their 

 call is a loud repetition of a single note given so rapidly that it 

 becomes a rattle, rising in volume and then dying away, a sound that 



