126 Field, Birds of Port Henderson, Jamaica, W. I. |~ April 



55. Mellisuga minima {Linn.). Bee Hummingbird. — Very common. 

 The Hummingbirds resort in great numbers to the blooming tamarind 

 trees. The Bee Hummers outnumber A. folytmus fifty to one, while 

 L. mango is rarely seen ; he evidently feeding on grosser food. 



July 17 I found a nest of M. minima in the growth of cashaw, lignum 

 vitse, and dildoes north of the salina. It is a dainty affair, built of the 

 down of Tillandsia, very deeply cupped, and perched upon the upper side 

 of a drooping twig about one-eighth of an inch in diameter, about four feet 

 from the ground. It contained two fresh eggs. Had it not been placed in 

 such a sheltered location, its cobweb moorings must have quickly parted 

 before the daily sea breeze. 



56. Elainea cotta (Gosse). — Rare at Port Henderson. A single speci- 

 men was shot by Mr. Taylor. 



57. Myiarchus stolidus (Gosse). Tom-fool. — Common, nesting in 

 holes in trees or about the houses. A favorite site is in the top of the 

 bamboo palisades which surround so many of the negro houses. Breed- 

 ing season, June. 



58. Tyrannus dominicensis (Gmel.). Petchary. — Not common at 

 Port Henderson, but found in considerable numbers a short distance 

 inland. Breeds in June. 



59. Pitangvjs caudifasciatus (D'Orb.). — Very common. Breeds in May 

 and June. 



60. Icterus leucopteryx ( Wagl.). Banana-bird. — Common. Nest 

 closely resembles that of the Orchard Oriole, but is larger with thinner 

 walls. Nesting season, June. Young birds in company with the parents 

 seen July 20. 



61. Quiscalus crassirostris (Swains.). Shine-eye. — Common. Resorts 

 in large flocks to the rushes in the low grounds near the mouth of the Rio 

 Cobre at Passage Fort. Breeds also further inland on the estates of 

 Congreve Park and Half-way Tree Pen. 



62. Loxigilla violacea (Linn.). Black Sparrow ; Black Bullfinch; 

 Cocoa-bird; Jack-sparrow. — Not uncommon, prefers the thickets of 

 low cashaw bushes. A nest with two eggs was taken at Mandeville, May 



23- 



63. Euetheia bicolor (Linn.). Grass-bird; Grass-quit. — Common. 



Makes its domed nest among low bushes, or upon the 'dildoes' (cacti). 

 Nesting season, May, June and July. 



64. Spiza americana (Gmel.). — Mr. Lindell of Congreve Park in April, 

 1889, saw two large flocks of what he supposed were 'Pinks' (Dolichonyx 

 oryzivorus). From these he shot many individuals; discovering that they 

 were of some species unknown to him, he made and preserved several 

 skins. One of these he gave to me for identification. It proved to be 

 the Dickcissal. Probably one or more flocks during the migration were 

 driven to the island. There is no evidence that this is a common occur- 

 rence ; though such may be the case. To Mr. Lindell's knowledge it has 

 not been found there before or since. 



