on the Birds of San Domingo. 329 



decomposed condition from near the railway-station, where 

 it was said to have flown against the telegraph-wires. 



- 24. CyPSELUS PHCENICOBIUS. 



(Cory, op. cit. p. 87.) 



25. Neph(ecetes niger. 

 (Cory, op. cit. p. 88.) 



There were two species of Swifts common at La Vega, but 

 the larger one was by far the commonest and gathered in 

 vast flocks towards the evening in wet weather to feed over 

 the waste ground just outside the town. 



I did not collect any specimens. 



26. Lampornis DOMiNicus. Locally " Soombador." 

 (Cory, op. cit. p. 90.) 



1 observed this species only twice, although Cory says it 

 is very abundant — once at Samana, and again on the hills 

 near La Vega. I failed to obtain a specimen. 



,27. Spokadinus ELEGA.NS. Locally " Soombadop." 

 (Cory, op. cit. p. 93.) 



This Humming-bird was fairly common both at Sanchez 

 and La Vega. A pair frequented the garden almost every 

 morning during March, sometimes probing the flowers 

 of the magnificent scarlet hibiscus and sometimes hovering 

 round the spikes of the large aloes in front of the veranda. 



-. 28. Mellisuga minima. Locally " Soombador."'' 



(Cory, op. cit. p. 92.) 



This diminutive little Humming-bird, not much bigger 

 than a bumble-bee, was common both at Sanchez and La Vega, 

 and I found several of its nests. One, at the end of March, 

 near Sanchez, containing two young ones, was a tiny cup- 

 like structure placed between the fronds of a small fern on 

 the bank of a stream, lined and chiefly made of wool and fine 

 hair, and disguised outside with little pieces of green moss, 

 lichens, and cobwebs. At the beginning of March I had a 

 nest sent to me from La Vega containing two full-grown 

 young ones. 



The noise this little tiny creature can make is quite extra- 



SliK. VII. — VOL. Ill 2 a 



