288 BULLETIN 15 5, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



found it mingling with the other species of tody. The two seem 

 to occupy distinct ecological associations, with the broad-billed form 

 widely distributed through the lowland areas, and the narrow-billed 

 species closely confined to the wet jungles bound with creeping bam- 

 boo that grow principally in the mountains, not wandering beyond 

 these limits. Though superficially alike in color and markings the 

 two species are easily distinguished by their notes so that there is 

 instant recognition when they are heard. The call of the narrow- 

 billed tody, uttered with bill pointing upward at any disturbance 

 in its haunt is a chattering chippy chippy chippy chip occasionally 

 varied to chic-o-ret or chip-chui. In April Wetmore found them in 

 pairs with the males scolding nervously at intruders. One was 

 seen resting within a few inches of his mate with the feathers of 

 his sides expanded beyond his wings so that their brilliant pink 

 was prominently displayed while he jerked his tail and uttered 

 his call. Though no shyer than the companion species the narrow- 

 billed tody is usually difficult to see when its calls are heard as it 

 inhabits dense growths and is so tiny that a single leaf may com- 

 pletely hide it from view. 



There is an old skin of this species without data in the United 

 States National 1 Museum that was secured by Gabb in the Dominican 

 Republic. In the southern part of that country Cherrie found it at 

 the interior points where he collected, securing specimens at Aguacate 

 and Catarrey. Ridgway, 14 has recorded it from Santo Domingo City 

 but this we consider uncertain. (His basis for reference to it at 

 Puerto Resoli is unknown to us.) Verrill confused it with the broad- 

 billed species since he says that its note is similar to that of subulatus 

 in which he was entirely mistaken. The only references of his to it 

 that are to be trusted are skins that he collected at Caiia Honda Janu- 

 ary 2, and El Valle, January 15, 1907, which E. Hartert informs us 

 are in the Tring Museum. Beck collected specimens at Santo 

 Domingo City, October 5 and 20, and Sanchez Nov. 3, 13, and 14, 

 1916, and on Loma Tina January 3, 1917. 



Abbott found the narrow-billed tody common near Constanza, 

 where he collected specimens September 24, 25, 28, and 29, 1916, and 

 April 9, 10, and 11, 1919. On May 4 and 6, 1919 he secured two at 

 Hondo. On May 9 about two miles below Hondo Abajo he collected 

 two eggs, one containing a fair-sized embryo, from a hole dug in the 

 bank of a dry stream bed. The tunnel was excavated to a depth of 

 eleven inches and near the end turned at right angles to the left, 

 probably because of a large stone encountered at this point, to termi- 

 nate in a chamber that from Abbott's notes was the " size of a small 

 fist." He says that children often rob the nests to eat the eggs. The 



14 U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 50, pt. 6, 1914, p. 445. 



