BIRDS OF JAMAICA. 3 



Casmerodiiis albus egretta (Gmelin). American Egret. 



In former years the Egret was a common resident species in Jamaica. Dr. Field 

 records the finding of a nest Irom which he took eggs on June 2c, 1891; but the bird is 

 now apparently very rare. 

 Leucophoyx thula thula (Molina). Snowy Egret. 



Formerly the Snowy Egret appears to have been recorded as an occasional winter 

 visitor to Jamaica. Dr. Field, however, found it common in the summer of 1891 and 

 breeding in a mangrove swamp near Port Henderson. 



Neither of us saw the bird while in Jamaica, and while it may still occur there, we 

 have foimd no further record. 

 Dichromanassa rujescens (Gmelin). Reddish Egret. 



Formerly — according to March — an occasional visitor. We know of no recent records 

 P'lorida caeridea (Linne). Little Blue Heron; Blue Gaulin. 



A common resident species. Often seen in little companies walking about in the pas- 

 tures and open fields. 

 Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis. (Gosse). Louisiana Heron. 



A fairly common resident species. 

 Butorides virescens maculatus (Boddaert). West Indian Green Heron; Green Bittern; 



Crab-catcher. 

 Common resident species. In all probability the North American Green Heron — 

 B. virescens virescens (Linne) occurs also in Jamaica, as a winter visitor, but as the 

 North American and West Indian forms can be told apart only by average measure- 

 ments — the West Indian being smaller—it might be risky to consider even a large winter 

 killed specimen surely to represent B. virescens virescens. 

 Nycticorax nycticorax naevius (Boddaert) . Black-crowned Night Heron . 



Api arently very uncommon in Jamaica, and not observed there by the more recent 

 ornithologists who have dealt with the birds of the island. It was, however, recorded by 

 both Gosse and March. 

 Nyctanassa violacea jamaicensis (Gmelin) West Indian .Yellow-crowned Night 



Heron 

 Common resident species, especially so in the more extensive mangrove swamps. 

 Specimens from the West Indies, average paler than continental ones, and have there- 

 fore been recognized as subspecifically distinct. 



Plataleidae. 



Spoonbills. 

 Ajaja ajaja (Linne) Roseate Spoonbill. 



Formerly in all probability, a casual visitor to the island. It has not been observed at 

 ail in recent years. 



Ibididae. 

 Ibises. 

 Eudocivms alba (Linne). White Ibis. 



In March's time a resident bird breeding in the "islets off Salt Island and Bushy 

 Park Lands, " and "only visiting the mainland in August and sometimes in September. " 

 Dr. Field reqords a rookery "in a mangrove swamp between Goat Island and Wreck 

 Bay." 

 Eudocimus rubra (Linne). Scarlet Ibis. 



Formerly an irregular visitor to Jamaica, appearing some years and not others. Dk 

 Field records that in 1891 the Scarlet Ibis was ' ' Reported by the fishermen as not uncom- 

 mon in the swamps after heavy weather from the southward. " We have f oimd no recent 

 records of its occurrence. 



Ciconidae. 

 Storks and Wood Ibises. 

 Mycteria amerieana,. Linne. Wood Ibis. 



Accidental in Jamaica, there being but one record oT its occurrence. 



Phoenicopteridae. 

 Flamingoes. 

 Phoenicopterits ruber. Linne. North American Flamingo. 



Formerly of regular occurrence in Jamaica, where it is said to have bred. Now, it 

 it occur* in the island at all, it is only as a rare straggler. 



