270 Notes on some Cuban Birds. 



Gosse, of Jamaica, for which reason it bears this name in the 

 "Journal fur Omithologie TV., Jahrgang Wo. 19, Januai\ 1856, 

 page 5," where my notes, and the ornithological catologue I 

 had sent to Hessen Cassel, are published. I have not yet com- 

 pared specimens from both islands, and in the description I 

 had not noticed that Gosse's bird has the under wing and tail 

 coverts of a dirty white, and besides has not the white so con- 

 spicuous on the rump. Our bird must be considered as a 

 different species. 



Plumage: Male; sooty brown, darker on the head, with 

 slight green reflections on the back and tail. Throat, breast, 

 belly, and vent silky white. Cheeks and sides of the breast 

 brownish. Tail slightly forked, and composed of ten feathers. 

 Difference between the middle and outer 0.015. 



The female has the sides of the breast lighter, and the whole 

 of the lower parts except the wing and tail coverts, of a dirty 

 silky white. 



The only perceptible difference in young birds is, their having 

 the white parts darker. 



MALE. FEMALE. 



Length 0.112 0.118 



Extent 0.242 0.257 



Tail 0.051 0.018 



This bird inhabits low level grounds, over which it flies with 

 great swiftness in search of insects. From time to time it utters 

 its twittering agreeable notes, and when in chase of another 

 its sharp " tweet" resembles that of the former bird. 



The long hanging leaves of a palm tree called by the natives 

 "palma cana," and some others of the same class (Chamerops), 

 afford among their folds many openings in the shape of inverted 

 funnels, which the birds enter with the impulse of their rapid 

 flight, and scrambling upwards with the help of their sharp 

 curved nails, And there a secure place to repose at night. 



