° 1916 J Wetmore, Birds of Vieques Island, P.R. 413 



maining. One was seen near Porto Ferro on March 25, 1912. Dr. C. W. 

 Richmond secured one on March 28, 1900. 



[Aratinga sp. — A paroquet was said to occur on the island occasionally 

 during the rainy season in the months of June, July, and August, but I was 

 unable to substantiate these reports. It is barely possible that Eupsitula 

 pertinax from St. Thomas might cross with the trade winds as the islands 

 lie within sight of each other. Gundlach ^ heard of a paroquet on Vieques 

 Island.] 



30. Amazona vittata (Boddaert) (?). Porto Rican Parrot. — Par- 

 rots are found during the rainy season in the months of June, July and 

 August in the heavy forest of the southern side of the island. It is believed 

 that they cross at that season from Porto Rico. Senor Jose Bart6n was 

 well acquainted with them and told me that they were considered a game 

 bird, making a highly desirable dish for the table. There were none here 

 during the period of my visit. 



31. Coccyzus minor nesiotes (Cabanis). Mangrove Cuckoo. — 

 Resident. In thick brushy growths on the southern side of Vieques Island 

 these cuckoos were common but were difficult to secure. Their notes came 

 frequently from the dense, dry, thorny thickets lying in the intense blazing 

 heat of the sun, but the birds themselves, working slowly and methodically 

 through the bushes usually near the ground, were not often seen. The last 

 week in March marked the beginning of the breeding season here. Speci- 

 mens were taken on March 25. 



32. Saurothera vieilloti Bonaparte. Vieillot's Ground Cuckoo. — 

 The only record of this bird for Vieques Island is that of A. and E. Newton 

 (Ibis 1859, p. 378) who note that a collector in the employ of Apotheker 

 Riise of St. Thomas secured one here. It can be regarded only as a straggler 

 though it is possible that the bird may have been resident here formerly. 



33. Crotophaga ani Linnaeus. Ani.^A fairly common resident of 

 the brushy pastures. The Ani was found in flocks of six or eight feeding 

 near the cattle or sitting in the tops of bushes calling querulously at the 

 appearance of an intruder. A nest found the last week in March was built 

 in a clump of thorny bushes about six feet from the ground. It was made 

 of twigs and was large and bulky, forming a mass two feet across. The 

 interior was still unfinished. Anis were taken on March 20, 23, 25 and 30. 



34. Melanerpes portoricensis (Daudin). Porto Rican Wood- 

 pecker. — A common resident species in the forest regions of the island. 

 On March 25 one was seen feeding well grown young in a hole in a stub 

 about twenty feet from the ground. The woodpeckers were all nesting 

 at this time and were very noisy and vociferous. Specimens were secured 

 on March IS, 19, 25 and 29. 



35. Streptoceryle alcyon alcyon (Linnseus). Belted Kingfisher. 

 — A regular migrant and winter visitant. Mr. Bowdish (1900, p. 72) 

 secured a male on December 10, 1899. I shot one on March 30, 1912, and 



1 Apuntes.para ia Fauna Puerto Riquena, An. Soc. Esp. Hist. Nat., Madrid, 1878, p. 229. 



