THE BIRDS OP HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 415 



The earliest definite date for the spindalis from the Dominican 

 Eepublic seems to be one taken by Cory at Puerto Plata, December 

 2, 1882. Later McGrigor sent one to Tristram that was collected 

 at Samana January 12, 1884, and Christy obtained one at Sanchez 

 February 25, 1895, remarking that the stomach was filled with soft 

 dark purple berries. Verrill writes that early in his collecting he 

 saw none but on January 22, 1907, he collected one at Sanchez. In 

 the week following February 26 he obtained more than sixty in a 

 radius of one hundred yards where they assembled to feed on red- 

 dish purple berries. When the supply of berries was consumed the 

 birds disappeared. Cherrie obtained several at Aguacate and 

 Catarrey in January and February 1895 when the birds were found 

 in overgrown clearings feeding on berries. Peters saw one at Bulla 

 but observed no others. Abbott secured numerous specimens which 

 may be itemized to indicate the dates of occurrence. Polo, Bahor- 

 uco Mountains, February 28, 1922, female ; Pilon de Azucar, Samana 

 Peninsula August 12, 1919; El Rio October 7, 8 and 9, 1916, and 

 May 14 and 18, 1919; vicinity of Constanza April 7, 9, 10, 11, and 

 16 and May 7, 1919. He speaks of them as common on the north 

 shore of the Samana Peninsula, and in the high pine woods in the 

 vicinity of Constanza. Specimens taken at El Rio May 14, 1919, 

 were breeding. Wetmore, on May 13, 1927, collected one in the for- 

 est at the summit of the hills back of Sanchez. At Constanza he 

 found them common from May 19 to 27, securing specimens May 

 24 and 27. Ciferri collected specimens at 1,200 to 1,500 meters on 

 Monte Viejo, August 25 to 28, 1929. 



The spindalis is common through the hills of Haiti. Possibly 

 Descourtilz included this species in part in his description of the 

 grivelette de Saint Domingue, though his reference to Daubenton's 

 plate is to a picture of the ovenbird, as he describes this bird as 

 common so that it was sought eagerly as game, being considered 

 highly desirable for the table, and speaks of it as feeding extensively 

 on fruits. He describes the eggs which he secured as bluish, spotted 

 at the large end with reddish brown. His account is uncertain in 

 application and must not be accepted with finality. Younglove 

 collected four spindalis at Port-au-Price June 8 and 10, 1866, these 

 apparently being the first skins of this species to come to the United 

 States. Cory collected two at Petionville March 3, 1881. Abbott 

 secured two at Jeremie December 2 and 14, 1917, and a series at 

 Moline January 25, 26, and 29, and February 1, 1918. He took 

 others on Morne St. Vincent, near Furcy, June 12, 1920, at Fonds 

 Verettes April 27, 1920, and at Moustique March 9, 1917. Wetmore 

 found them common on the ridge of La Selle from April 9 to 15, 

 securing one at 1,500 meters below Morne Cabaio April 9, and seeing 

 one near Chapelle Faure April 17. Bond speaks of them as common 



