Grayson.] 298 [June 7, 



List of Socorro Island Birds collected 

 by A. J. Grayson, May, 1867. 



PSITTACID^E. 



1. Conurus holoehlorus var. brevipes Baird. Ann. Lye. 

 N. Y., Vol. x, p. 14. "Socorro Parrot." 



" This parakeet is quite abundant and evidently belongs to this 

 locality, which it never leaves ; they are to be met with in flocks or 

 in pairs. In the mornings they left the cove in which we were en- 

 camped, for the higher regions of the interior to feed, returning 

 again in the evening to roost. This cove, in which the trees are 

 larger and the shade more dense than in other parts of the Island, 

 seems to be their favorite resort. I saw them at times walking about 

 on the ground beneath these trees, apparently picking up clay or 

 gravel ; they are remarkable tame, exhibiting no fear in our pres- 

 ence. Three cages were soon filled with them, which were caught 

 by hand, and their constant whistling for their mates brought many 

 of them into camp, perching upon the cages and elsewhere; they 

 feed upon a hard nut which they £nd in the mountain gorges, and 

 on account of the inaccessible localities where this fruit grew, I was 

 unable to find it. The powerful jaws of this parakeet would indicate 

 the fruit to be very hard." 



TURDIDJE. 



2. Harporhynchus graysoni Baird. Ann. Lye. N. Y., Vol. 

 x, p. 1. "Socorro Thrush; Mocking bird." 



"Not very abundant, but seems to be well distributed over the Is- 

 land. It has all the characteristics of the true mocking bird in its 

 habits (Mimus polyglottus). Of solitary disposition, it attacks every 

 bird of its own species that approaches its usual haunts. 



" One took up its quarters in our camp, and was certainly 

 the tamest bird of this genus I ever saw ; he appeared to take 

 pleasure in our society, and attacked furiously every bird that 

 came near us. He doubtless regarded us as his own property, often 

 perching upon the table when we were taking our meals and eating 

 from our hands, as though he had been brought up to this kind of 

 treatment ; at times ascending to the branches over our head, he 

 would break forth into loud and mellow song, very thrush like. In 

 the still hours of the night while roosting in the branches near us 



