284 CRUISE OF THE BARRERA 



open hilltop, fairly aflame with the same red- 

 flowered trees observed near the sierra. 



We observed here a striking bird, present all 

 along the coastal region, the Cuban oriole {Ict- 

 erus hypomelas). It is a black bird with bright 

 yellow shoulders, rump and tail coverts, the under 

 side of the axillaries of the wing is also yellow. As 

 a general alarmist he reminds one strongly of our 

 own cat-bird at home. A little sneaking about 

 the thicket, as ornithologists must do, will lure 

 the oriole from his hiding-place and cause him to 

 scold and revile the intruder. While vociferating 

 he will often approach close enough to permit of 

 excellent camera shots. The Cuban green wood- 

 pecker and the white-eyed vireo are also garrulous 

 birds that are often met in company with the 

 oriole. Along the route we saw numbers of small 

 flocks of Cuban parrots {Amazona leucocephala L.) 

 and noticed the large holes in the upper portion 

 of royal palm trunks excavated by them for 

 nesting sites. 



Another hour through sparsely timbered low 

 hills brought us to the San Marcos River, its 

 banks fringed with vivid green bamboos. The 

 water was very high and the current strong, but 



