THE BIRDS OF HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 299 



Nesoctites micromegas abbotti, Bond, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 

 80, 1928, p. 505 (Gonave Island).— Danforth, Auk, 1929, p. 370 (Gonave). 



Gonave Island; common resident. 



Dr. W. L. Abbott, in whose honor this species is named, found 

 the Gonave piculet common in dense scrub on the hillsides, and 

 usually encountered it in pairs. In all he secured 14 specimens taken 

 February 20, 21, 23, 24, and 27, 1918, and March 8, 9, 10, and 14, 

 1920. The latter were shot near Anse a Galets. The specimen 

 selected as type is a male taken February 24, 1918. The soft parts 

 are said to be similar in male and female, the iris being reddish 

 brown, upper mandible blackish above and leaden beneath, and tarsi 

 greenish lead color. 



Danforth found it common on Gonave in 1927 and says " it is 

 almost abundant in the brushy woods, and its characteristic callnote 

 is heard on every side. We collected five specimens. The stomach 

 contents of one consisted exclusively of the seeds and pulp of some 

 fruit." 



Bond writes that the piculet is " very common on Gonave Island, 

 its abundance being due perhaps to the absence of the much larger 

 Chryseryes. In habits and notes it is similar to the mainland form. 

 Six specimens were secured. 



"A nest was found in June. It was placed about 12 feet above 

 the ground in arid growth. It was apparently empty. The nesting 

 hole was of downy-woodpecker size." 



This form is generally similar to Nesoctites micromegas (Sunde- 

 vall) but is very much paler both above and below, the under surface 

 being white, with only a very faint tinge of yellowish on the breast, 

 and the upper surface much grayer. The white of the sides of the 

 neck is more extended and the yellow of the crown in the male is 

 more restricted. 



Following are measurements (in millimeters) of the series 

 obtained : 



Eight males, wing 65.9-68.4 (67.7) ; tail 36.5-42.8 (39.5) ; culmen 

 from base 15.8-17.2 (16.5) ; tarsus 17.0-18.3 (17.4). 



Six females, wing 69.3-73.2 (71.2) ; tail 37.0-41.5 (39.9) ; culmen 

 from base 17.0-17.7 (17.5) ; tarsus 17.3-18.5 (17.8). 



Type, male, wing 68.0; tail 42.8; culmen from base 16.5; tar- 

 sus 17.9. 



In general the Gonave Island bird is similar to that of the main 

 island, but the differences, mainly those of paler coloration, seem 

 so distinct that it is considered a species apart from micromegas. 



