1^92- J Scott on tin- Biiuh of yamaica. '^7^ 



in the trees and bushes much as do our Warblers (Mniotiltidac). The 

 birds, so far as I am aware, are insect eaters, and I found no vege- 

 table remains in those dissected. Their breeding habits are too well 

 known to be more than commented on. The shallow burrows, rarely 

 exceeding a foot in depth, in which the eggs are laid, are easily robbed by 

 the mongoose, and the birds are said to be by no-means as common as in 

 former years. They arc said to nest from late March until June. Birds 

 taken early in February, though paired, did not show signs of breeding. 

 The iris in these birds is of a peculiar grayish white shade, and almost 

 identical in color with the eyes of Virco modestns. 



131. Todus pulcherrimus S/iarpe. Siiarte's Tody. — The type of this 

 recently described species is in the British Museum, and the habitat is 

 given as '"Jamaica " It is very different from all other species of the 

 genus, " by its brilliant coloration below, and by its being bluish green 

 above." 



132. Sphyrapicus varius (^Linn). Yellow-hellied Woodpecker. — A 

 rather common winter resident on the island, at all points which I visited. 



133. Centurus radiolatus {IVagl.). Radiolated Woodpecker. — A 

 common species on tiie island, but apparently much more common in the 

 less settled portions. They were apparently rare at Stony Hill, where 

 I obtained but a single bird and saw no others. But in the hills back of 

 Priestman's River and Boston they were common, and were met with 

 almost daily. In habits they closely resemble the North American 

 representatives of the genus. The birds were mated during the latter 

 part of my stay at Boston, but up to the time of my deparlpire showed 

 no signs of breeding. 



134. Nyctibius jamaicensis (G;«t'/.). Potoo. — Notobserved at Kingston, 

 or in the vicinity, nor at Stony Hill. But at Boston five individuals were 

 secured during my stay. A male taken on January 14, 1S91, and a female 

 secured later on the same day (Nos. 10,331 and 10,359, coll. W. E. D. S.), 

 indicated on dissection the near approach of the breeding season. On the 

 25th of January a female was secured. This bird was taken in the bright 

 moonlight. It was sitting on a branch of a dead tree, not longitudinally, 

 but crosswise. My attention was attrac:ted to it by its note, a guttural 

 ch-r-r, that was answered by its mate near by. The note was not at all 

 loud or prolonged, and could be heard only a very short distance. Two 

 other individuals were procured during February. In the daytime they 

 sit crosswise, so far as I observed, on the large limb of some good-sized 

 tree, and where the shade is constant and the light dim. A large, low, 

 spreading mango seems frequently selected as a day roost, and the same 

 place is used for many days, the excrement on the ground often drawing 

 attention to the otherwise almost indistinguishable bird. For thej' are 

 very tame at all times, antl do not seem at all alarmed at the approach of 

 man. 



The large eyes, with the deep orange irides, remind one strongly, both 

 by their color and shape, of Owls' eyes, and are not at all like those of 

 any North American Whippoorvvill or Nighthawk. 



