94 NORTH AMi:i:icAN niiiDS. 



(,>uite a lar^e scries of tliis species from tlie various AVest Indian Islands 

 show a considerable variation in tlie amount oi' l»lack in male l»irds; nothin«; 

 cliaracteristic of the different islands, however, for, in specimens from each, 

 indiviihials are to be found agreeing in every respect with tlie stages de- 

 serilx'd above. 



Haiuts. The I>lack-faced Finch of Jamaica and other West India Islands 

 claims a i)lace in tlie fauna of the Tniteil States as an occasional visitant of 

 Florida ; <)f how common occurrence on that peninsula we cannot deter- 

 mine. It was taken there in the spring of 1<S71 by Mr. Maynard, and is 

 possibly an accidental rather than a regular visitant. It is found in many 

 of the West India Islands, though being resident in their several places of 

 abode, thev naturallv exhibit certain characteristics as of distinct races. 

 The ei;«4s of the St. Croix binl dill'er cousiderablv from those of the Jamaica 

 one. 



The Messrs. Xewton, in their account of the birds of St. Croix, mention 

 this bird as having a Hunting-like song, heard always very early in the 

 morning. It is said to freipient the curing houses, hopping on the uncovered 

 sugar-hogsheads, and making a i)lentiful meal therefrom. It is very sociable, 

 and feeds in small flocks, mostly on the ground among the guinea-gi'ass. 

 The cro])s of those dissected were usually found to contain small seeds. 

 They build domed nests in low bushes, thickets of bamboo, or among creep- 

 ers against the side of a house, seldom more than four feet from the ground, 

 composed entirely of dry grass, the interior being lined with finer materials 

 of the same. The opening is on one side, and is large for the size of the 

 nest. They breed from the middle of May to the end of July. The eggs 

 are white, spotted with red, especially at the larger end. The usual num- 

 ber of eggs is three, very randy four. Their measurement is .C>o by .50 

 of an inch. 



In Jamaica Mr. ^larch speaks of it as the most common of the Grass 

 Finches, of which there are three other species, and as nesting at all seasons of 

 the year in low trees and bushes. Xear homesteads, in building their domed 

 nests, they make use of shreds, scra]>s of cloth, bits of cotton, and other trash. 

 Their eggs, he says, are three and sometimes even six in number ; and he 

 mentions their varying both as to dimensions and coloring, which may 

 explain the difference between the eggs from St. Croix and Jamaica. Those 

 from the latter place measure .72 by .r>0 of an inch, and the markings are 

 more of a brown than a red color. 



Mr. Hill adds that the (Jrass Finch very frequently selects a shrub on 

 which the wasps have l)uilt, fixing the entrance close to their cells. 



Mr. Gosse states that the only note of this species is a single harsh gut- 

 tural st^ueak, difficult either to imitate or to describe. 



