268 Notes on some Cuban Birds. 



less rounding of the tail, I cannot consider it as belonging to 

 this genus, though it possesses those pointed ends of the shafts. 

 Plumage in both sexes : sooty black with some green reflec- 

 tions: throat black without reflections, lores black. A band 

 from the bill to the upper part of the eye has the ends of the 

 feathers white. A white ring round the neck, broader on the 

 breast, the feathers being of a dark color at their base. Tail 

 forked, composed of ten feathers, the difference between the 

 middle and outer being of 0.009. All the tail feathers have 

 their ends pointed, and the shafts extend beyond the vanes, 

 though commonly worn. The first quill is the longest. Bill 

 and feet black, the latter with a purplish tint. Eye almost 

 black. 



MALE. FEMALE. 



Length 0.216 0.221 



Extent 0.518 0.532 



Tail 0.072 0.0T3 



It seems that this species lives and breeds in the highest parts 

 of the mountains, being only seen in the plains and low grounds 

 some time before or after a shower. 



They assemble in great numbers, flying in all directions, now 

 nearly touching the ground, and then very high up in the air, 

 chasing the insects which have taken wing. Suddenly one of 

 the flock utters a cry, which is immediately answered by all the 

 rest, and shooting away with the greatest swiftness, they retire 

 to a lower plane, where they again commence their evolutions. 



I have not found either their nest or young, and have not 

 been able to obtain information respecting their breeding time. 



2. Cypselus nigek (Hirundo nigra), Gmel. 



riumage in both sexes : Head, neck, and throat dark brown, 

 the vertex feathers with the edge whitish ; a white band from 



