peters: birds of the Dominican republic. 417 



little open stretch and alighted in a small tree through which it was 

 searching in a most \'ireo-like manner when I shot it. 



Through the courtesy of Mr. H. C. Oberholser I had the privilege 

 of examining the type of this species. It is evident that it has faded 

 considerably since its capture over forty years ago, as the upper parts 

 have a decidedly brownish tinge, whereas in the fresh specimen they are 

 greener. 



70. Vireosylva calidris calidris (Linne). 



Eight males, Monte Cristi, Sosua. 



As elsewhere in the Greater Antilles, this Vireo appears to be 

 migratory. I shot my first one, at Monte Cristi on February 8. 

 No others were taken there, and on the whole the species seemed to be 

 uncommon. At Sosua and eastward the Vireos were common when 

 I arrived and up to the tirtie of my departure their songs formed the 

 bulk of the bird notes to be heard in the heavy timber. 



Wetmore (Birds of Porto Rico, p. 97) states that no females were 

 taken by him in^ Porto Rico until April 11. In my series, the last 

 bird shot on April 4, there are no females, although I feel reasonably 

 certain that they had arrived at least by the first of the month. 



The song of the Jamaican Vireo is very similar to that of the Red- 

 cyed Vireo, but slightly richer in tone. 



The upper mandible is dark brown; lower mandible bluish brown; 

 iris dark red-brown; legs and feet bluish. 



71. DuLus dominicus (Linne). 

 Sigua prieta. 



Twenty-three specimens, both sexes, Monte Criste, Bulla, Sosua; 



The Palm Chat was not particularly common at Monte Cristi, but 

 at the other localities visited, it was abundant, easily the commonest 

 species on the island. 



They are very gregarious, feeding in flocks and breeding in colonies; 

 all the females in the colony occupy an enormous communal nest, which 

 is invariably placed in a palm tree. The presence of either a nesting 

 colony or a flock feeding is realized at once i)y their harsh rasping 

 notes, suggestive of those of the Starling. When feeding the\- are \ery 

 tame, and even after one or more of their number has been killed the 

 l)lrds will return almost at once to the same tree to continue feeding. 



The series exhibits a considerable variation both in size and color; 



