BrRDS OF JAMAICA. 5 



Cathastidab. 



American Vultures. 

 Cathartes aura aura. (Linne). Turkey Buzzard, John Crow. 



A common resident species, especially in the towns and cities, where it has the habit 

 of a general scavenger. 

 Coragyps urvhu. (Viellot). Black Vulture. 



An accidental visitor to Jamaica, recorded by March. 



BUTBONIDAB. 



Hawks; Eagles; Kites. 

 Elanoides forficaius. (Linne). Swallow -tailed Kite. 



A very rare or accidental wanderer; Hill's record, as given by Gosse, is the only one 

 we find for the island. 

 {Jctinia mississippiensis. (Wilson). Mississippi Kite. 



According to Taylor there was, a very \ oor sj ecimen of this species, without data, 

 in thg Museum of the Jamaica Institute.] 

 Buteo borealis jamaicensis. (Gmelin). Jamaican Red-tailed Hawk. 



A common resident species, especially in the mountains, *here it may often be seen 

 sailing about high overhead. 



The subspecies is not pecuJar to Jamaica, being found in the otherGreater AntiUes, 

 except Cuba, where another form occurs. 

 [Urubitinga sp. 7 Black Hawk: Crab Hawk. 



A Hawk was recorded by Gosse, on the strength of Hill's observations, as Marphnus 

 urubitinga Cuvier. We know of no other record. If a Ciab Hawk should occur in 

 Jamaica as a straggler, it might belong to any one of three or four sj ecies. — Urubitinga 

 gundlachii (Cabanis) of Cuba and the Isle of Pines; Urubitinga anlhracina anthradna 

 (Licht.) of Mexico, Central America and northern South America; Urubitinga anthradna 

 cancnvora (Clark) of Saint Vincent or Urubitinga ridgwayi (Gurney) oi Mexico and 

 Central America.] 



Falconidae. 

 Faicons. 

 Falco peregrinus anaium (Bonaparte). Duck Hawk. 



The Duck Hawk is an occasional migrant or winter visitor to Jamaica. It was also 

 thought by Taylor to be resident and to breed at the Morant and perhaps the Pedro 

 Cays. 

 Falco columbarius columbarius. Linne. Pigeon Hawk. 



A not uncommon winter resident and migrant in Jamaica. Taylor thought that it 

 bred on the island; this we doubt. 



Pandionidab. 



Ospreys. 

 Pandion haliaetus caroUnensis. (GmeUn). Osprey: Fish Hawk. 



Not at all uncommon coastwise in winter in Jamaica. Whether or not it is a resident 

 we are unable to state. 



Odontophobidae 



American Paitridges. 

 Colinus virginianus virginianus. (Linne). Bobwhite. 



The Bobwhite, or American quail, was introduced in Jamaica, and thoroughly natu- 

 ralized some hundred and seventy years ago, and remained an abundant species until the 

 aipearace of the Mongoose, that pest {.racticaUy extirpating it. There are, however, 

 probably still some quail in Jamaica. Ten or twelve years ago I. E. Sheilock wrote Bangs 

 that he knew where a few still existed. Sjecimens seem to be rare in collections. There 

 is in the Museum of Comparative Zoology one good adult male taken near Spanish 

 Town by W. W. March. This example is of about the same size as and very similar 

 in coloui- and markings to skins from Virginia and the CaroUnas, and judging by it alone, 

 it would seem that its ancestors were imi orted to Jamaica from that part of the United 

 States. 



Numidiae. 



Guineafowls. 

 Numida meleagris meleagris. Linne. Common Guineafowl. 



Introduced in Jamaica and thoroughly naturalized many years ago. It is now be- 

 lieved to have been wholly exterminated in a wild state, by the Mongoose, 



