t> BIRDS OP JAMAICA. 



Rallidae. 



Rails; Gallinules; Coots. 



Ralhis longirostns caribaeus. Ridgway. Jamaican Clapper Rail; Mud Hen; 



Mangrove Hen. 

 Gradually the forms of the Clapper Rail inhabii-ing other islands of the West Indies 

 have been named, until noTv B. longirostris caribaeus is lestiicted to Jamaica. In its 

 favourite haunts, the mangrove swam] s, it is an abundant resident species, but is shy 

 and secretive, and is seldom seen. 

 Porzana Carolina. (Linne). Carolina Rail. Sora, Striated Crake. 



Locally an abundant -winter resident, especially common in the maishes of the Black 

 River region. 

 Porzana flaviventer gossi. (Bonaparte). Minute Crake. 



This subspecies, which is confined to Jamaica and Cuba, is distinguished from the 

 South American P. flaviventer flaviventer (Boddaert) by its paler — whiter — less yellow — 

 under parts. It is a fairly common resident species, though local. Its favorite abode 

 is among the floating, aquatic vegetation of the ponds and sluggish streams. 

 AmawoUmnajs concolor. (Gosse). Red Rail, Red Crake. 



This Rail was still a common bird in the island in March's time. No recent collectors 

 have been able to find it, and possibly, especially as it was rather a dry land species, 

 the Mongoose has nearly or quite exterminated it. It is not considered peculiar to 

 Jamaica, South American specimens generally having been referred to the same form. 

 Creciscus jamaicensis jamaicensts. (Gmelin). Little Black Rail. 



The Black Rail was of frequent occurrence in March's time, in the savannas, pastures 

 and marshy places of the island. None of the more recent ornithologists to visit Jamaica 

 ha^e been able to find it there; possibly it has fallen a victim to the Mongoose. It was 

 not, of course, confined to Jamaica, but ranged through easiem North America as well. 

 lonornis marlinica. (Linne). Purple Gallinule. 



Probably a rather rare and local resident species, for which we find no definite recent 

 records. 

 GaUinula chloropus caehinnans. (Bangs). Florida Gallinule. 



A common resident breeding species, wherever suitab.e swamps and marshy ponds 

 occur. 

 Fvlica caribaea. Ridgeway. West Indian Coot. 



A resident breeding species, much less common than the Gallinule, and (trom all 

 we can learn) much less abundant now than in former years. 



Aramidai!. 

 Limpkins. 



Aramus voei]erus. (Latham). Limpkin, duckling Hen. 



Formerly the Limpkin was a not uncommon resident species in Jamaica. Now it 

 is on the verge of extinction, though probably not entirely gone. In 1910, I. E. Sher- 

 lock wrote to Bangs that he knew of a spot in the island where there still w ere a few 

 Liiiip kins. The Mongoose is suiposed to have found this species an easy prey, and to 

 have caused its near extinction. 



Laridab. 



Gulls. 

 Chroicocephalus atricilla oiricilla. (Linne). Laughing Gull. 



Rather common about the coasts and in the harbours, said by Taylor to be resident 

 and to breed at ihe Morant Cays. Dr. Field records "A single ] air was found breeding 

 on Lime Cay, June 5." 



Stebnidab. 

 Terns. 

 Thalasseus maximus. (Boddaert). Royal Tern. 



Abundant during the winter along the coasts and in the hai hours; saidby Tayloi to 

 breed at the Moiant Cays. 

 Thalasseus sandvicensis acuflavidus. (Cabot). Cabot's Tern. 



There seem to be no records of this bird by the earlier obseivers; but Dr. Field writes 

 of its being "common" during his residence on the island in the summer of 1891. We 

 know 01 no record of its breeding there. A flock of about twenty-five individuals of 

 this species was seen in Kingston Harbour by Kennard, March 14, 1918. 



