Nyctibius jamaicensis and Scleruriis umbretta. 303 



30 m. from the latter, is a path of communicatiou between 

 the different colonial lots of the valley and the forest-slopes 

 on both sides. The stump in question is about 20 m. distant 

 from the brook, surrounded by shrubs and easily visible 

 from the path on the other side, and was evidently put there 

 three years ago by the former colonist. The nearest human 

 residences are distant from five to ^ix minutes only. 



Fip:. 1. 



Nest and egg of Nydibius jainaicensis on tlie top of a stump. 



The stump, still partly covered with its original bark, 

 has a height of 1*8 m. above the level of the ground. Its 

 diameter at top is 9*5 cm. The top has in the centre a 

 small depression, caused by decomposition, and scarcely 

 presents sutRcient room for a rather large egg. There .was 

 no trace of a softer substratum or nest-material. 



The egg (fig. 2, p. SO^), which waits for an opportunity to be 



sent to the British Museum, measures 41 "5 mm. in the longi- 



I tudinal axis and 30o mm. in the transverse axis. Its general 



I colour is white. On the blunt ])ole, however, are some 



very delicate pale violet spots, and irregularly distributed 



I over the whole surface are some large ones of brownish- 



