peters: birds of the Dominican republic. 411 



the natives asserted were uttered by the Lechuza. In each case the 

 note consisted of a high pitched nasal "whdd." The species is proba- 

 bly not very common. 



In Book XIV, Chap. VII, Oviedo relates: 



"There are also many lechuzas [Barn Owl] in this island, both in 

 the cities and about the thatch huts, but they are much smaller than 

 the lechuzas of Castilla, for they are the size of a cernicalo [FaJco 

 tinmmculus] or even smaller." 



51. Chordeiles virginianus gundlachii Lawrence. 



In Santo Domingo the West Indian Nighthawk is migratory as it 

 is in the other West Indian islands. As the first representative 

 appeared on the north coast the night before my departure (April 10) 

 I can give no information as to its abundance there. 



In speaking of the nocturnal birds on the island of "Espafiola" 

 Oviedo (Book XIV, chap. VII) says — "There are on this island 

 certain birds larger than swifts which have the same wings and 

 manner of flight, and fly with equally great velocity and with the 

 same manner of dipping and rising and turning swiftly about in the 

 air. They do not appear and are not seen until the sun is drawing 

 near to the horizon, also at certain times when the sun does not 

 appear the sky being cloudy. A little before sunset they appear, as 

 also do the bats, and they fly all night. And from time to time they 

 utter a cry which one hears at a great distance .... These birds are 

 great enemies of the bats, and they fly striking at them and persecuting 

 them and this is indeed a sight to admire." 



52. ToDus subulatus Gray. 

 Barancoli. 



Twenty-two specimens, both sexes. Monte Cristi, Sosiia, Choco, 

 Rio San Juan, Arroyo Salado. 



The Haitian Tody is one of the commonest birds found along the 

 north coast. It prefers shady or moist situations where it may be 

 seen sitting in its characteristic attitude, tail pointing almost directly 

 down, bill elevated at an angle of at least forty-five degrees. Sud- 

 denly there is flash of green, a whir of wings, a bill snaps once or 

 twice and the Barancoli is again perched motionless. 



