THE BIRDS OF HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN EEPUBLIC 423 



berries, which form the bulk of their food. At a distance these 

 birds are so tiny that they show only a yellow breast and a dark 

 back so that one is astonished at the lovely colors of one in the 

 hand. Occasionally birds are seen flying overhead, but are detected 

 in the trees often only after prolonged watching, so that familiarity 

 with their calls is the principal criterion on which to determine their 

 abundance. As said above they are dependent for food mainly on 

 the mistletoe berry, the viscous-coated seeds of which drop from 

 mouth and vent as recently killed birds are handled. They are 

 probably the principal disseminators of their own food supply by 

 carrying the seeds from place to place. 



Salle first records the euphonia from the Dominican Republic, 

 but is mistaken when he says of its whistling notes " le chant en est 

 magnifique et tres fort " as the calls of this bird do not carry far. 

 Cherrie secured eight at Honduras and one at Maniel (San Jose 

 de Ocoa). Verrill obtained specimens near Sanchez, the first on 

 February 26, 1907, and says that he found them only in one tree 

 to which they came regularly to feed on the berries of a mistletoe. 

 One that he collected here March 6 is in the collection of J. H. 

 Fleming. Tristram received one from Samana taken September 10, 

 1884, by C. G. McGrigor. Near La Vega Cory secured a series 

 August 6, 12, 14 and 15, and September 7, 1883. Christy obtained 

 a pair here May 2, 1895, and Beck one December 8, 1916. Cory took 

 another at Magua January 27, 1883. Abbott shot a male at El Rio 

 May 19, 1919, and reports that he saw others. Wetmore observed 

 one at this point May 29, 1927, and May 19 to 27 saw them regularly 

 at Constanza where they were common in high deciduous forest. He 

 collected three May 24. Ciferri obtained it at San Juan February 

 3, 1929, on Monte Viejo at 1,200 to 1,500 meters August 25 to 28, 1929 

 and also at Rio Manacle in the Province of Azua on the dates last 

 mentioned. 



In Haiti the first record is that of A. E. Younglove who secured 

 a male at Port-au-Prince May 9, 1866. Cory collected an immature 

 bird at Petionville March 9, 1881. On December 14, 1917, W. L. 

 Abbott saw several in the hills four miles south of Jeremie at an alti- 

 tude of 450 meters and collected a pair. In north Haiti he obtained 

 two March 7 and 11, 1917, at 360 meters near Moustique, and reports 

 that he saw others near Riviere Bar, near sea level. 



In 1927 Wetmore found them fairly common at Fonds-des-Negres 

 and collected a male April 5. On La Selle he recorded one at 1,500 

 meters on the north slopes of Morne Cabaio April 9, and found others 

 April 14 at the Jardins Bois Pin at 1,800 meters. James Bond col- 

 lected an immature male on Gonave Island February 12, 1928. He 



