364 BULLETIN 15 5, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



(nesting). — Verriix, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 61, 1909, p. 364 

 (Dominican Republic). — Peters, Bull. Mus. Corn p. Zool., vol. 61, 1917, p. 423 

 (Monte Cristi, Sostia, specimens). — Kaempfer, Journ. fiir Ornith., 1924, p. 184 

 (Dominican Republic). — Beebe, Zool. Soc. Bull., vol. 30, 1927, p. 141; Beneath 

 Tropic Seas, 1928, p. 223 (Haiti).— Bond, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 

 vol. 80, 1928, pp. 511-512 (Haiti).— Danforth, Auk, 1929, p. 372 (generally dis- 

 tributed; Gonave). — Lonnberg, Fauna och Flora, 1929, p. 108 (Haiti). — 

 Moltoni, Att. Soc. Ital. Scienz. Nat., vol. 68, 1929, p. 322 (Haina, San Juan, 

 specimens ) . 



Resident, locally common, more particularly in sections with 

 plentiful rainfall; found on Gonave and Petite Cayemite Islands. 



The honey-creeper is commonly distributed through the island be- 

 ing found especially where abundant rainfall produces suitable cover 

 of vegetation. It ranges from sea-level to the tops of the mountains 

 in both republics as it has been recorded from the summit of La Selle 

 and from the mountains above Constanza and El Rio. In the up- 

 lands it inhabits deciduous growths and does not range among the 

 pines except where its usual habitat is afforded by trees and bushes 

 growing along little streams. Wetmore did not record it during his 

 brief stay near Hinche in 1927 but it is possible that it is found 

 locally in areas of brush in that vicinity. Though usually common 

 the bird is somewhat retiring so that it may be easily overlooked 

 except by those familiar with its high-pitched, insect-like song. It 

 seems especially common over the southwest peninsula of Haiti and 

 the Samana peninsula in the Dominican Republic. Abbott found it 

 common on Gonave Island, and secured a male on Petite Cayemite 

 Island January 13, 1918. Danforth in 1927 records it as fairly com- 

 mon on Gonave where he found a nest containing one egg July 17. 

 Poole and Perrygo collected skins in 1929 at Plaine Mapou and 

 Massacrin on Gonave. 



These birds feed regularly at blossoms of many kinds being espe- 

 cially fond of the banana. Though much of the food is nectar they 

 also consume quantities of minute insects and spiders. Peters reports 

 that at Monte Cristi they feed extensively at the flowers of the agave. 



The breeding season extends over a considerable part of the year. 

 Peters secured young not more than two months old at Monte Cristi 

 between February 7 and 21, and an incubating female at Sostia 

 March 30, 1916. Cherrie found male and female busily carrying 

 nesting material at Santo Domingo City February 15, 1895, and 

 Cory describes a nest found May 1, 1883 (probably at Samana, 

 though this is not stated) in deep woods, placed at the end of a 

 long limb, containing two fresh eggs. On May 9, 1917 W. L. Ab- 

 bott collected a set of three eggs (of which one was lost) at Petit 

 Port a l'Ecu. The nest, placed in a bush one and one-half meters 

 from the ground, is the globular structure usual in this genus, rough- 

 ly 100 mm. in diameter, entirely enclosed, with a small opening in 



