PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 355 



"Prefers the skirts of woods and open fields, utters a sharp whistle, 

 not very loud, and flits from bush to tree in low flight. Bather abun- 

 dant at Trois Islets on the hillsides. More numerous than I found it in 

 Dominica ; even plentiful in the low scrub, or second growth, that cov- 

 ered the hillsides upon old plantations." 



Fam. FRINGILLID.E. 



15. Loxigilla ncctis (Linn.). 



" ' Pere noirJ • MoissonJ 



••Length, <?, 5J in.; alar extent, 9; wing, 3. 



" Length, 9, 5 in. ; alar extent, wing, 2%. 



u In the French islands and in those in which the patois is spoken, 

 the names of this bird are the same ; the male is called the i Pere noir\ 

 the female the k moisson \ 



" They are as abundant here as any species and. confined to the open 

 fields and cultivated districts without regard to altitude." 



16. Phonipara bicolor (Linu.). 



" 'Mangeur des herbes.' Seed-eater. 



" Length, 9, li in.; alar extent, 6J; wing. % 



" The most common species, I thirds:, in the island. Feeds principally 

 upon the seeds of grass and noxious weeds, and hence cannot be other- 

 wise than of great benefit to the island." 



Fam. ICTERIDJ3. 



17. Icterus bonana (Linn.). 



"'Carouge.' 



" Length, <?, 8 in. ; alar extent, 10J; wing. 3J. 

 "Length, 9, lh in.; alar extent, 10; wing, 3J. 



"I saw my first specimen of this bird at Morne Rouge, another half- 

 way up the volcano of Montague Pelee; but did not obtain one until 

 my visit to Trois Islets, south of Fort de France. It is not in abun- 

 dance that one sees it; separately and in pairs. I found it chiefly in 

 dealings on the hills and elevated plains. It prefers the vicinity of 

 gardens and hedges, and slums thick woods; though I have found it in 

 dense scrub. Upon the hills near Trois Islets 1 secured it in such a 

 situation. I was reclining beneath the shade of a low tree, one very hot 

 day in August, looking out over the beautiful bay of Fort Royal, when 

 1 was suddenly brought to my feet by the shock of an earthquake, 

 which, repeated twice, startkd the birds as well as myself. Then I 

 noted for the first time this bird in the scrub beneath the trees." 



18. Quiscalus inflexirostris, Sw. 



<u Le Merle.' Iris, <?, hazel; 5, pale yellow. 

 " Length, <?, 10J in.; alar extent, 15; wing, 5. 

 "Length, 9, 9 in.; alar extent, 13$ j wing, 4\. 



