Mr. W. T. March has also published the accompanying note on the species in 

 Jamaica : — 



" Though sometimes met with domiciled in buildings, the Progne still manifests its 

 peculiar predilection for dark places. In the office of the Island Secretary, in Spianish 

 Town, they resort to the ceiled roofs of the upper story, entering through holes found 

 under the eaves, where they live and carry on the work of incubation iu total darkness. 

 At each end of the House of Assembly is a hole drilled through the brick wall for the 

 insertion of a pipe for carrying off the surplus water from the drip and water-jars ; in 

 consequence of some alterations made in this respect, the pipes were removed and the 

 holes stopped up from within, but left open outwardly ; in each of these holes the Progne 

 builds every year. In the mountains, caves and hollow trees are chosen for the nesting- 

 places. The nest is composed of an odd mixture of shreds of cloth, silk, paper, leaves, 

 grass, twigs, etc., all loosely put together with a lining of down and feathers. In Spanish 

 Town the nest is composed principally of the soft, flexible portion of the seed-pods of the 

 Catalpa longisslma. The eggs are round, oval, clear white, 15-16ths by ll-16ths of an 

 inch. The species is musical. It is one of the phases of the naturalist's barometer, as 

 wdienever, though the atmosphere be clear and dry, the Progne perches on the weather- 

 cock or lightning-rod, on the highest points of the house top, or on the topmost twigs 

 of some lofty tree, chanting its incantation, cloudy weather and rain will surely follow 

 within 24 hours. I believe stragglers of this species remain during the winter months. 

 Several species of the migratory Hirundlnes traverse the island from north to south in 

 the autumn, and from south to north in the spring. They pass in considerable numbers 

 high overhead. Sometimes in squally weather their flight is lower, skimming rapidly 

 along, rarely alighting, and then only for a few seconds. I have on several occasions 

 had some passing glimpses of some alighting for a moment at some water puddle in 

 the road or street, but these opportunities are rare. On one occasion I saw distinctly 

 some large Martins with ashy-blue backs, and others were black Swallows. I observed 

 and heard several flocks pass over in September of 1SG2, but they were too high to 

 recognize." 



The descriptions are from birds in the British Museum, and the figures have been 

 taken from specimens in the Salvin-Godman collection. 



