276 



Scott on the Birds of yumaica. [July 



135. Nyctibius pallidus Gosse. White-headed Potoo. — This species was 

 described by Gosse "from Robinson's MSS, who has given an ehiborately 

 colored figure (jf the species in his drawings." Gosse did not meet with 

 a representative but concluded from facts furnished by Mr. Hill and 

 others that there was a 'White Potoo.' I refer the reader to Gosse's 

 'Birds of Jamaica,' pp. 49-51. The natives at Boston were familiar with 

 a bird called the White Potoo, which was the Barn Owl of the region 

 (Strix flammeola Jurcata'), and whenever I asked on the island about the 

 'White Potoo,' the Barn Owl was described to me. I concluded that pro- 

 bably Mr. Robinson's specimen referred to and described by Gosse was 

 some abnormal phase of plumage of N. jamaicensis, an albinistic or 

 pied individual, very likely. 



136. Antrostomus carolinensis (Ginel.). Chuck-will's-widow. — Prob- 

 ably a migrant and winter resident. I took three individuals at Boston 

 in February. I did not hear the song of the species while in Jamaica, and 

 it is apparently unknown to the residents of the island. 



137. Siphonorhis americanus (Lin/i.). — I did not meet with this species, 

 but saw a single specimen in the collection of the Jamaica Institute. It is 

 apparently a very rare bird in the parts of the island where my collections 

 were made. 



13S. Chordeiles minor CtiA. Cuban Nighthawk. — Common migrant 

 and summer resident. Arrives in April and leaves late in September and 

 in October. I did not meet with the bird. 



139. Chordeiles virginianus (Gmel.). — It seems probable that another 

 species of Nighthawk is a migrant, passing through Jamaica in spring 

 and fall, and I remark it here to draw to it the particular attention of 

 future observers. While I have alluded to this under the head of C 

 virginianus, it seems more probable that C. virginianus chafmaiii 

 may be found to be the race represented as a migrant in the fauna of 

 Jamaica. 



140. Cypselus phcenicobius (Go^'ie.). Palm Swift.— A common resi- 

 dent in Kingston and the vicinity. Also noted daily at Stony Hill. But 

 during the two months and more of work at Boston, Priestman's River, 

 and Port Antonio I did not see this species on a single occasion. Nor did 

 the people about seem to know of a " Swallow that bred in the cocoanut 

 or other palms." For a detailed account of the habits of this Swift the 

 reader is referred to Gosse's 'Birds of Jamaica,' pp. 58-63. 



141. Cypseloides niger {Gmel.). Black Swift. — I did not observe this 

 species at any point where I worked while in Jamaica, but saw three speci- 

 mens in the collection of the Jamaica Institute. It does not seem probable 

 that the birds are resident or that they breed on the island, but rather that 

 they occur as migrants. 



142. Hemiprocne zonaris {S/iaiv). White-collared Swift ; Ringed 

 GowRiE. — A common resident species. Seen at all points visited on the 



island, and freque titly in great numbers. Generally they fly verj' high 

 and are much out of gunshot, but I saw them several times just before 

 sundown or early in the morning flying very low over the pastures and 



