104 Catalogue of Birds. 



level portions of the rock. Their nests are always made in the 

 sand, and contain each one egg. I have found it extremely dif- 

 ficult to get a shot at these flocks, as they are very shy and easily 

 alarmed. The captain of a vessel who shot several for me, 

 stated that he saw the whole flock pounce upon a wounded one 

 and tear it to pieces." 



32. Saliplana discolor, Coues. Ibis 1864, p. 392. 



" ' Egg bird.' So called, I presume, from the abundance of 

 the eggs derived from it; for I am inclined to believe that in 

 former years the number of its individuals visiting this Key has 

 been surpassed only by that of the Noddy and Royal Tern. It 

 is peculiar especially for its social habits in regard to the Noddy ; 

 whatever may be its numbers upon the Key it is almost always 

 to be found in the flocks of Noddies. They arrive in March and 

 depart in August. This species makes its nest about after the 

 same fashion as the Noddy, and lays but one egg. It often flies 

 high with a noisy chatter, very different from the discordant 

 ' caw, caw' of the Noddy, and a quick darting motion. I have 

 never noticed the two species to quarrel, though the individuals 

 of both will often fight long and obstinately with each other." 



This is certainly distinct from II fuliginosa (Gm.), and I 

 agree with Dr. Coues (see his paper cited above) that it has not 

 been satisfactorily identified with S. payanensis, Gm. (payana, 

 Lath.). But his determination of S. payanensis, Gm., as being 

 identical with fuliginosa, Gm., I do not consider to be surely 

 established, and think payanensis had better be allowed to rest 

 on its own merits. The size of S. payanensis is given by Gm. 

 as that of JS. hirundo, viz. 14 inches, which is also that of the 

 present species, whereas the length of S. fuliginosa is 16 inches. 



Under the circumstances I think Dr. Coues is justified in 

 giving the present bird a distinct specific name. 



It differs from fuliginosa (with which it has been confounded) 

 in being smaller, in having a distinct black cap, between which 

 and the dark greyish slate back there is a space of light greyish 

 ash, nearly white next the black. The whole upper plumage 



