THE BIRDS OF HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 389 



The ovenbird is found in thickets and scrubs in both humid 

 and arid sections, where it walks about on the ground in search for 

 food, and though not conspicuous it is not so shy as it is in its north- 

 ern breeding ground. The fact that it walks, coupled with its black 

 striped crown and white streaked breast, identifies it readily. 



The species was found first in the Dominican Republic by Salle. 

 Cherrie reported it common at all points that he visited in the south 

 of the republic in 1895, Christy shot an adult female at La Vega 

 April 19, 1895, and Verrill found it abundant. Specimens in the 

 collection of J. H. Fleming secured by Verrill were taken at Sanchez 

 December 23, 1906, and January 23 and 25, 1907, El Valle January 

 18, Samana January 30 to February 20 (nineteen skins), and La 

 Vega March 18. Peters found the ovenbird at Sosua and Arroyo 

 Salado. It is seemingly more common on the north coast during 

 spring migration as he found it common after March 15, increasing 

 in numbers to the end of the month and continuing in undiminished 

 abundance to April 10. R. H. Beck collected one at Santo Domingo 

 City September 27, 1916. W. L. Abbott secured a male at Sanchez 

 February 17, 1919. 



The Ciferri brothers collected it at Haina in November, 1925, at 

 Sabana San Thome near San Juan October 19 and 25, 1928, and at 

 Moca October 12, 1929. 



Records for Haiti date back to March, 1705, when Feuillee reports 

 an ovenbird from near Les Cayes, describing its colors carefully but 

 telling little about it otherwise. Another early record of interest 

 is that of Edwards who figures one taken November 1, 1751, at sea 

 about 10 leagues from the coast of Hispaniola by Tho. Stack en route 

 from London to Jamaica. Vieillot said that this species was found in 

 winter, his records presumably referring to Haiti. Cory found it 

 common near Gona'ives and Jacmel in 1881, and Bartsch reported it 

 as common about Jeremie April 11 to 16, 1917, and at Trou des 

 Roseaux April 14. W. L. Abbott secured it on Tortue Island Feb- 

 ruary 2 and 7, 1917, Gonave Island February 20, 1918 and at Jeremie 

 November 24, 1917. T. E. Penard reports one aboard ship to the 

 north of Haiti October 27, 1921, his steamer having left Port-au- 

 Prince northward bound the night before, indicating a late migration 

 date. 



In 1927, Wetmore found one March 29 in the outskirts of Port-au- 

 Prince, one April 7 at La Tremblay, one April 9 at an altitude of 

 1,500 meters below Morne Cabaio on the slopes of La Selle, and 

 one April 13 at 2,100 meters on Morne La Visite in the latter range. 

 The records indicated carry the species from sea-level to the tops 

 of the mountains and indicate well its general distribution. On 

 April 20 he collected one at Las Cahobes and secured others at 



