BIRDS OP JAMAICA. " 9 



shown good characters by which the West Indian bird can always be toid, and we follow 

 him in recognizing it. 

 Charadrius semipalmatus. Bonaparte. Semipalmated Plover. Eing-neck. 



An occasional winter visitor. 

 Charadrius melodus. Ord. Piping Plover. 



An occasional migrant or winter visitor. Seen in large flocks in October, 1887 by 

 Taylor. 



AltENABnDAE. 



Turnstones. 

 Arenaria irtterpres morinella. (Linne). Turnstone. 



Acommonwinterresiden; andmigrant. Bangssawmanyflookson all suitable beaches 

 in January and February. 



Jacanidab 



Jacanas. 

 Jacana spinosa violacea. (Cory). West Indian Jacana. 



A resident, breeding species, rather local in its distribution, but not uncommon 

 among the ponds and slugysh streams in Westmoreland, whence I. E. Sheilock, sent 

 a series of skins to Bangs, now in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Mr. Frank 

 Cundall in a letter to Kennard dated January 18, 1919, writes of a bird "shot in the 

 rushes surrounding a cattle pond in St. Thomas in the Vale, where I am told it is not 

 uncommon. " 



COLUMBIDAE. 



Pigeons: Doves. 

 [Starnoenas cyanocephala. (Linne). Blue-headed Quail Dove. 



This species probably never belonged to the native omis of Jamaica. It has, how- 

 ever, figured in some of the lists of the birds of the island, and was in tormer days often 

 imported aiive. It may therefore have been taken in an apparently wild state, as an 

 escape Irom captivity.] 

 Geotrygbn versicolor. (Lafresnaye). Crested Quail-dove; Blue Dove: 



Mountain Witch. 

 This monotypic genus is peculiar to Jamaica. Apparently it is less numerousnow than 

 formerly, and is supposed to be much preyed upon by the Mongoose. It is still to be 

 found, however, on the higher wooded slopes of the mountains. 

 Oreopeleia montana. (Linne). Ruddy Quail-dove; Mountain 



Partridge. 

 The Ruddy Quail-dove is not uncommon locally in the island, where it is resident and 

 breeds. It piefers, moist, heavy woodlands, and sometimes is found in large numbers 

 in a small area. It is not so common now as formeily, and without question is greatly 

 reduced in numbers by the Mongoose. It has a wide distribution in South and Pentral 

 Ame.ica and throughout 'he West Indies. 

 LeptoHla jamaicensis jamawensis. (Linne). White-bellied Dove. 



Peculiar to Jamaica, where it is resident, the White-bellied Dove may still belound 

 locally m its favorite haunts, a;nays on the ground, in the setter spots in the heavy 

 woods. It is said by local gunners to be much less conmmon now than it was before 

 the introduction of the Mongoose. 

 Chaemepelia passerina jamaicensis. (Maynard). Jamaican Ground Dove. 



A very abundant lesident, and famiUar to all on account of its habit of livina; in gar- 

 dens and cultivated lands near dwellings. This sub-s; eoies is pecuhar to Jamaica. 

 Melopctia as^aiica asiatica. (Linne). White-winged Dove. 



This \. ide langing sf ecies is abundant in Jamaica, where it breeds. It is found chiefly 

 in the lowiand? and more open country, and prefers the \icinity of extensive mangrove 

 swamjs, spending much ol its time in the mangroves. 

 Zenaida zenaida aenaida. (Bonaparte). Zenaida Dove. Pea Dove. 



A common, resident, breeding sj ecies, usually found in the cultivated land and in 

 old fields giown up to weeds. 

 7'ermda 1 plumhea. Gosse. Plumbeous Dove. Blue Part- 



ridge. 

 This species, a resident peculiar to Jamaica, which was aiparently still extant in 

 Gosse's time, and was known as the Blue Paitridge by local gurmers and woodsm"n. 

 is probably now extinct. It is known to science only by an unpublished drawing by 

 RoLiHwon, and by Gosse's plate taken irom that drawing. 

 Patagioensas ieucocephala. (Linne). White-crowned Pigeon; Bald- pate Pigeon 



