﻿294 Mr. E. Hartert on the Birds of 



the French traveller Rochefort stated that he saw two kinds 

 of Humming-birds, of which one was the smallest and the 

 most beautiful he knew, on Aruba (Berl. J. f. O. 1892, p. 65). 

 All the above-mentioned birds were found by us, and 

 collected in sufficient numbers to enable us to identify them. 



1. Mimus gilvus rostratus, Ridgw. Proc. U. S. N. M. 

 1884, p. 173 (Curacao) ; Berl. J. f. O. 1892, p. 74 (Curacao) ; 

 Peters, J. f. 0. 1892, p. 114. 



(1) {J ad. sect. Aruba, 22 vi. 1892. Wing 4°4 inches, 

 tail 4*6, culmen 0"9, tarsus 1*4. 



(2) £ ad. sect. Aruba, 23 vi. 92. Wing 4*25 inches, 

 tail 4*5, culmen 0*9, tarsus 1*4. 



The specimens of this bird from Aruba agree in every 

 respect with those from Curacao. Berlepsch (/. c.) has said 

 much about this form, which to a certain extent varies indi- 

 vidually. It certainly does not deserve more than subspecific 

 rank. 



The " Tjutjubi " is not rare on Aruba, but less numerous 

 than on Curasao. 



The iris is dark orange-brown, bill and feet black. 

 Its food consists of fruits, chiefly that of the Cereus, and 

 beetles. 



The nest is a large and somewhat loose structure, mostly 

 placed in the dividivi-trees. The eggs are four or five in 

 number, with the well-known coloration of those of the other 

 forms of Mimus, all much of the Turd us -type, thereby con- 

 firming my opinion that Mimus should not be removed too far 

 from the Thrushes. 



The name u Tjutjubi " is taken from an often-heard note 

 of this bird, closely resembling these syllables. 



I found fresh eggs on Curacao in the middle of June, and 

 hard-set ones at the beginning of August. In the meantime 

 I frequently met with quite young birds flying about, and 

 also found some nestlings. 



The " Tjutjubi," sitting on the top of the high Cereus, and 

 often singing its pleasant notes even from the roofs of the 

 houses, is one of the most characteristic features of the avi- 

 fauna of Curacao, Bonaire, and Aruba. 

 [6] 



