THE BIRDS OF HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 351 



The series of skins that we have examined shows much variation, 

 those from Haiti as a whole seeming slightly lighter and less heavily 

 streaked below than those from the Dominican Republic, particu- 

 larly when compared with skins from the Samana Peninsula which 

 are especially dark and heavily marked. There is evident tendency 

 toward geographic distinction in color but from the series examined 

 this is not expressed with sufficient definition to warrant the naming 

 of local races on Hispaniola proper, which may come later with 

 more detailed studies of local conditions and larger sets of skins. 



As few sets of measurements of this species have been published 

 the following taken from an extensive series may be of interest: 



Males, 17 specimens, wing 82.3-89.8 (86.3), tail 65.6-77.0 (69.8), 

 culmen from base 13.5-16.5 (15.1), tarsus 20.3-24.4 (22.3) mm. 



Females, 15 specimens, wing 83.4-90.0 (86.8), tail 63.5-77.4 (68.3), 

 culmen from base 13.7-16.0 (15.0), tarsus 20.2-23.5 (22.2) mm. 



The bird described by Swainson as Dulus nuchalis 31 supposed to 

 have come from " Brazil " said to be " above olive brown ; nape with 

 a transverse bar of white; beneath cream color, with distinct stripes 

 of dark brown " has long been a puzzle since it has been believed 

 that it might be a distinct species with habitat not known. Bond 

 writes : 32 "I have examined Swainson's type of Dulus nuchalis in 

 the Cambridge (England) Museum. There is nothing remarkable 

 about the bird, the only difference in coloration being an ill-defined 

 and irregular spot of albinism on one side of the neck. Nuchalis, 

 therefore, must be considered synonymous with dominicus." 



The palm-chat is from 190 to 210 mm. in length with moderately 

 long tail and fairly strong bill somewhat curved at the base. The 

 bird is olive above with a greenish wash on the rump and upper 

 tail-coverts, and edgings of the same color on feathers of wings and 

 tail. The under surface is yellowish white broadly and distinctly 

 streaked with sooty brown. The species may always be identified 

 at its huge nests of sticks in the royal palms which differ wholly 

 from the structures built by any other of the small birds of the 

 island. 



DULUS DOMINICUS OVIEDO Wetmore 

 GONAVE PALM-CHAT, OISEAU PALMISTE 



Dulus dominicus oviedo Wetmobe, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 42, 

 March 25, 1929, p. 117 (Picmy Gonave Island, Haiti). 



Dulus dominicus, Bond, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 80, 1928, 

 p. 509 (Gonave; local). 



ffl Anim. Menag., 1838, p. 345. 



82 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 80, 1928, p. 510. 



