94 N'OUTIl AMMKICAN UIUDS. 



(i^iiito a larni! scries of this sjwcics from tlio varioiis West Indian Islands 

 show a consiilerable variation in tlie amount of l)laei< in male Ijirds; notliing 

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

 indivi(hials are to be found agreeinjf in every resjiect with the stages de- 

 scrilicd iiltove. 



H.viiiT.s. The lilack-faced Finch of Jamaica and other West India Islands 

 claims a place in the fauna of tlie United States as an occasional visitant of 

 Florida; of liow common occurrence on that jjcninsula we cannot deter- 

 mine. It was taken there in the spring of 1X71 l>y Mr. Maynard, and is 

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

 of tlic AVest ludia Islands, though being resident in their several places of 

 abode, tliey naturally exiiibit certain characteristics as of distinct races. 

 Tiie eggs of tiie St. Croix bird dill'er considerably from those of the Jamaica 

 one. 



The ^Icssrs. Newton, in tlieir account of the birds of St. Croix, mention 

 this bird as liaving a IJunting-like song, heard always very early in the 

 morning. It is said to freciuent tlie curing-hou.ses, hopping on tlie uncovered 

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

 and feeds in small flocks, mo.stly on the ground among the guinea-gi-ass. 

 The cro])s of tliose dissected were usually found to conttiin small seeds. 

 Tliey build domed nests in low l)ushes, thickets of bauil)oo, or among creej)- 

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

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

 of tlie 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, esi)ecial]y at the larger end. The usual num- 

 ber of eggs is three, very rarely four. Their measurement is .05 by .50 

 of an inch. 



In Jamaica Mr. ]March speaks of it as tlie most common of the Grass 

 Finclies, of which tliere are tliree otiier 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, scrajis of cloth, bits of cotton, and other trasli. 

 Tiieir eggs, he says, are three and sometimes even six in n..mber; and lie 

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

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

 from tiie latter place measure .72 by .50 of an inch, and the markings are 

 more of a brown tlian a red color. 



Ml". Hill adils that tlie (Jrass Finch very frcfjuently selects a shrub on 

 wliich tlie wasps liave built, fixing the entrance close to their (sells. 



Mr. (^tosse states that the only note of this s])ecies is a single hai"sh gut- 

 tural S(|ueak, difficult either to imitate or to describe. 



