64 BULLETIN" 326, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



forest had been recently cleared, as at Punta Picua north of Mameyes, and 

 that in the older groves they had not been seen for many years. It appears, 

 then, that this is not a common habit with them, and that when discouraged 

 the birds do not return. So that on the whole the woodpecker is to be con- 

 sidered beneficial. The only representative of its family in the region, it occu- 

 pies a peculiar place in regard to insect pests, being able to combat those 

 safe from the attacks of other birds and to aid in reducing the numbers of 

 others less favored but none the less noxious. Where it does damage to the 

 coconut groves a reduction of its numbers may be countenanced, but elsewhere 

 it should be protected. 



PORTO RICAX TODY. Tortus mcxicanus Lesson. (Plate I. Frontispiece.) 



San Pedrito, Medio Peso., Papagayo, Barraxcolino, Verdadon. 



The tody was common over the entire island of Porto Rico, usually being 

 absent, however, from the lowlands and never reaching clear to the coast. It 

 frequents dense forests, coffee plantations, or the brush-covered banks of 

 streams in damp localities, but is also common in the dry hills of the south 

 coast where there is no water. Though brilliantly colored, this little bird is 

 very inconspicuous, the green of the back resembling the vegetation, while 

 in the coffee plantations even the bright red of the throat may be mistaken for 

 a ripe coffee berry. Todies are tame little fellows, keeping usually in the low 

 growth and coming up almost within arm's reach. On warm mornings, after 

 a day and a night of fog and rain, they are found in the trees above the brush, 

 and then their true numbers may be appreciated. When perching they sit 

 nearly upright, the large bill at an angle of 45°. The ordinary note is a loud, 

 harsh pree or pree-ah, entirely disproportionate to the size of the bird. In 

 calling it rises to the full length of the legs and points the bill up. Another 

 habit is to fly out with a loud whirring rattle of the wings, apparently made by 

 the attenuate outer primary. This is under the control of the bird, as some- 

 times the flight is noiseless. The sound is made by both sexes, mainly from 

 January to June, but is seldom heard after the breeding season. 



This little bird is one of the few species common in the dense forests on El 

 Yunque, though here the fogs and heavy rains seem to subdue them somewhat, 

 and only occasionally do they break out into their loud notes. They are said to 

 begin nesting the first week in March, and birds taken then showed earth stains 

 on the plumage. Apparently the eggs are not deposited until May or June, 

 the young birds being common in July. The first nest seen was near Yauco on 

 May 24. A bird flew up from the face of a cut bank in a dry pasture, and on 

 examination the entrance to the nest was found, a hole about li inches in diam- 

 eter, showing the double path of an occupied nest. The tunnel went straight in 

 through the hard earth for 10 inches, and then turned at a right angle, going 

 8 inches farther to the terminal chamber, a cavity 3 inches high, the same in 

 width, and 5 inches deep. This nest contained three eggs, laid on the bare 

 earth, of a size that was astonishing, considering the smallness of the bird. 

 Each one was worked into a little hollow in the loose earth so that it was 

 partly embedded, but even then it must have been a task for the female to 

 cover them. They were a beautiful transparent white, showing a rosy reflection 

 before blowing, and dull white afterwards. Another nest found in a claybank 

 near Maricao June 3 consisted of a hole 11 inches in diameter and 8 inches deep 

 leading into a circular chamber 3 inches across. The nest contained two, eggs, 

 so stained by the red clay that they appeared to be densely spotted. Young 

 were first seen near Quebradillas July 5, and after that were common. At first 

 their throats are plain, but red feathers soon appear, and then they resemble 



