Vol «S3 XV ] Wetmore, Birds of Desecheo Island, P. R. 339 



boulders on the main island. At a gunshot all those near would rise and 

 circle with the other birds. On the wing these terns were swift and grace- 

 ful. Frequently half a dozen would dart out together over the water and 

 then circle back more slowly. Males were seen standing on the rocks 

 above the females on their nests and as I approached swooped at my head 

 with angry cries. The nests examined were in hollows on the tops or sides 

 of huge blocks of limestone in situations protected from the blazing rays of 

 the sun. Some were placed in holes eaten into the rocks by the action of 

 the water. The nests were made of a few loose pebbles and bits of loose 

 limestone gathered together with perhaps a feather or two added. Two 

 eggs collected were badly incubated. No young were observed. Appar- 

 ently the breeding season varies from year to year as Mr. Bowdish (1902-03, 

 p. 357-358) found fresh eggs on June 24, 1900, and notes an egg advanced 

 in incubation taken July 6, 1901. I collected four males and one female 

 on June 14. 



9. Zenaida zenaida lucida Noble. Porto Rican Dove. — This 

 Zenaida Dove was common in the growths of West Indian birch and other 

 shrubbery that covered the arid slopes of Desecheo Island. The males 

 called all day long, but x in the thorny growths it was difficult to approach 

 them. I found scattered birds feeding in small openings or along the trails. 

 At low tide these doves were seen frequently about pools of salt water left 

 by the receding tide on the rough limestone of the shore. As there was no 

 fresh water on the island it was a question in my mind as to whether or not 

 they were drinking this sea water. 



Lowe 1 remarks that Patagioenas leucocephala is said to cross from Swan 

 Island to Honduras, a distance of ninety-eight miles, to secure water in 

 times of drought. I saw no indication, however, that these Zenaida Doves 

 left Desecheo for this purpose. 



10. Patagioenas squamosa (Bonnaterre) . Scaled Pigeon. — On 

 June 15, the fishermen who were with me reported seeing several Scaled 

 Pigeons. There seems to be some migration among these large pigeons, 

 as at some seasons they are said to be fairly common here. 



11. Margarops fuscatus fuscatus (Vieillot). Pearly-eyed 

 Thbasher. — These thrashers, the only passerine buds noted, were com- 

 mon on Desecheo Island. In the dense brush it was difficult to locate them 

 though their call-notes were often heard. The fishermen who visit the 

 island occasionally had dammed a hollow in the rocks to catch rain water, 

 and Thrashers came often to this tiny pool. There was no other fresh 

 water on the island so that the birds must do without in dry seasons. A 

 pair of Pearly-eyed Thrashers had their nest in the roof of a small cave 

 which served me as a shelter from the sun while making up skins. This 

 nest apparently was a bulky structure as grass and twigs projected from all 

 the openings leading into the crevice in which it was located. The female 

 was incubating. Both birds perched about on the rock shelves without fear 



1 A Naturalist on Desert Islands, London, 1911, p. 46. 



