i PICARIE 
glancing about, now and then flitting up into the air, when the snap of his beak announced a 
capture, and he returned to some station to eat it. He would peep into the lowest and darkest 
corners, even under the tables, for the little globose, long-legged spiders, which he would drag 
from their webs and swallow. He sought these also about the ceiling and walls, and found very 
many. I have said that he continued at this employment all day without intermission, and, 
though I took no account, I judged that, on an average, he made a capture per minute. Water 
in a basin was in the room, but I did not see him drink, though occasionally he perched on the 
brim; and when I inserted his beak into the water, he would not drink. Though so actively 
engaged in his own occupation, he cared nothing for the presence of man; he sometimes 
alighted voluntarily on our heads, shoulders, or fingers; and when sitting, would permit 
me at any time to put my hand over it, though, when in the hand, he would struggle to get out. 
The inhabitants of Jamaica are not in the habit of domesticating many of the native 
birds; else this is one of the species which would become a favourite pet. (cf. Gosse, Birds 
of Jamaica, p. 72, London 1847). 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE 
Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4. Todus viridis viridis (Linneeus). 
— 5. Todus viridis subulatus (Gmelin). 
— 6. Todus viridis multicolor (Gould), 
— 7. Todus viridis hypocondriacus (Bryant). 
(All figures are of the natural size). 
Brussels, 1°! June 1905. 
