416 Wetmore, Birds of Vieques Island, P. R. [oct. 



in another instant it would begin to search the smaller limbs in vireo fashion 

 or even climb about as a tufted titmouse might do. Numerically this 

 species was small as not more than a dozen were noted on Vieques Island. 

 Collecting specimens was a matter of considerable labor as, once heard, 

 it was necessary to cut paths into the dense spiny growth in order to catch 

 sight of the bird. And when one was shot a trail had to be cut in through 

 the cactus and creepers to where it lay so that the few secured were hard 

 earned. Birds were taken on March 25 and 27. 



45. Progne dominicensis (Gmelin). Caribbean Martin.^ One 

 or two pairs of Martins were seen around the town of Isabel II, but they 

 did not spread into the country. This species does not winter here. Mr. 

 Bowdish (1900, p. 74) says that a few were seen just before his departui'e 

 from the island (Feb. 10, 1900); and this date may approximate the 

 average date of their arrival, though in some years they may be found 

 earlier. 



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

 Thrasher. — Resident. The truche, as it was called locally, was common in 

 the thickets, frequenting the dry creek beds and the ravines especially. 

 Its broken whistled notes were heard often while in the country and the 

 birds, slipping away through the bushes, were a common sight. This 

 species is large and robust in body and is hunted at times for food or game. 

 Nothing was learned of its nidification. One male secured March 21 was a 

 breeding bird but in twelve other males collected the sexual organs showed 

 no signs of approaching physiological activity. No females were secured. 

 Birds were taken March 18, 21, 27 and 29. 



47. Mimus polyglottos orpheus (Linnaeus). Jamaican Mocking- 

 bird. — A very common resident species. The dry brushy growth of 

 Vieques Island seemed well suited to the needs of this bird and all through 

 the pastures and fields it was common. The males sang constantly from 

 the tops of the trees lifting their wings or flying from bush to bush with 

 exaggerated movements to accentuate the handsome display of their snowy 

 white alar markings. My visit coincided with the height of the breeding 

 season and frequently a pair scolded harshly from the shelter of some thick 

 bush only to slip slyly away on the opposite side when approached. A nest 

 containing four young nearly a week old was seen on April 3. Many of these 

 birds are kept as cagebirds in inclosures varying from the ordinary wire 

 bird cage to a large calabash {Crescentia cujete) with the side cut out and 

 string laced back and forth across the opening to retain the captive. The 

 birds were fed in confinement on bananas, boiled eggs and cornmeal cooked 

 without salt. Specimens were taken March 18, 20, 21, 22 and 30. 



48. Vireosylva calidris calidris (Linnaeus). Jamaican Vireo. — A 

 summer visitant having a local distriluition on the island probably due to 

 the small number present and to the limited area inhabited by each pair 

 during the breeding season. On the south coast these vireos were found in 

 several localities but on the northern side they were noted only along one- 

 small gully. Specimens were collected on March 20, 22 and 25. 



fft 



