216 BULLETIN 15 5, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



found paroquets in small flocks in the high interior near Constanza, 

 securing two specimens there on April 26, and four on May 11, 1919, 

 and one near El Rio on May 19 of the same year. On March 1, 

 1922, he shot one at an elevation of 600 meters in the Sierra de Baho- 

 ruco near Polo. Near Sanchez in 1883 he found the paroquet com- 

 mon. He was told that fifty years previous paroquets had come in 

 great flocks so that it was necessary to guard the fields of maize 

 against their depredations. Hundreds were shot in driving them 

 out. In 1919 he saw none at all on the Samana peninsula, and in 

 that vicinity heard of them only at Matanzas and near Cabo Frances 

 Viejo. With prohibition against firearms the birds seem to be again 

 on the increase since Wetmore found several flocks May 10, 1927. 

 along the lower Yuna. He recorded several bands near Comendador 

 April 30, and found them near Constanza May 18 and 21, collecting 

 two on the date last mentioned. These two were shot on the wing 

 at one discharge from a passing flock, divided as usual into couples 

 that flew near together, and proved to be male and female, indica- 

 tion that these segregations within the flock are pairs as is always 

 supposed. 



Danforth writes that in 1927 the paroquet was abundant through 

 the region between San Juan, Dominican Republic, and Mirebalais 

 so that thousands were seen in small flocks daily. At San Juan 

 there was a roost somewhere to the west as flocks were observed 

 traveling to and from it night and morning. The birds were feed- 

 ing on the fruit of a wild fig, and were tame and unsuspicious so 

 that they were not alarmed even when some of them were shot. 

 Nine taken were not in breeding condition. He observed this species 

 elsewhere at Laguna del Salodillo, near Copey, June 26, Hato Major 

 July 7, Vasquez August 6, and Bonao August 7. Ciferri obtained it 

 at San Juan, February 5 and May 30, 1928, and July 4, 1929. 



In Haiti the paroquet has been reported more rarely. Saint-Mery 

 speaks of it near Dondon and Port-de-Paix. Abbott collected three 

 at the Etang Saumatre April 8, 1920, and others on the slopes above 

 Fonds Verettes May 1, and near Fond Parisien May 6 and 8. 

 Bartsch observed one in the Cul-de-Sac region April 24, 1917, and 

 Beebe records a few flocks in the interior. Wetmore found them 

 numerous on the summit of La Selle April 9 to 15, 1927, and secured 

 two specimens April 13. Squalling flocks passed over the pines at 

 intervals but the birds were wary and seldom permitted near 

 approach. Many were seen about the little plantations of the Jar- 

 dins Bois Pin. The flight of the paroquet is swift and direct and 

 the long slender tail makes an excellent field mark. One morning 

 at sunrise two alighted in the top of a dead tree near camp and 

 when collected proved to be male and female. G. S. Miller, jr., 



