APPENDIX. 351 



[From the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.] 



by george n. lawrence. 



Description of New Species of Birds. Island 

 of Dominica. 



An exploration of some of the least known of the West India 

 islands, for the purpose of elucidating their natural history, has 

 been undertaken by Mr. Fred. A. Ober, of Beverly, Massachusetts, 

 under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution. 



He has already sent every species heretofore obtained in Domi- 

 nica, with twenty-three additional ones. His first collection consists 

 of one hundred and fifty specimens, embracing thirty-one species, 

 three of which I consider new and have described below. Of this 

 collection he writes as follows : " The first collection was made in 

 the mountains of the Caribbean side of Dominica, though it includes 

 also birds of the lower hills and valleys, there seeming to be. but few 

 kinds of the low lands that do not ascend to the mountains ; though 

 there are many birds of the mountains and upper valleys that never 

 descend into the low country near the coast." 



Besides the three species of humming-birds well known as inhab- 

 itants of the island, I was greatly surprised to find another species 

 in the collection, viz., Thalurania Wagleri, of which there are seven 

 specimens all males. The only locality heretofore given for it is 

 Brazil, and it is considered rather rare ; it looks now as if its head- 

 quarters were Dominica, yet it seems strange that none are recorded 

 from any intermediate place. It would appear to be not uncommon, 

 as more specimens were sent than of Eulampis holosericetts and Or- 

 thorhyncus exilis, which are abundant species. Eulampis jugularis 

 was sent in large numbers. On the label of one of the examples of 

 T. Wagleri is, " Sulphur lake, 2,300 feet above the sea." 



The second collection was made on the eastern or Atlantic side 

 of the island; it contains eighty-two specimens, and has in it ten 

 additional species, but no novelties. There are two specimens of 

 that fine and rare species of parrot, Chrysotis augusta. 



I. Tkryothorus rufescens. "Rosignol." 



Male. Entire plumage rufous, much deeper in color above, of a 

 lighter and brighter shade underneath ; tail dark rufous, regularly 

 and closely crossed with narrow bars of black ; the coloring of the 

 under part of the tail is duller, but is barred in a similar manner; 

 inner webs of quills blackish-brown, outer webs and both webs of 



