452 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



cipal port, Point a Pitre, is situated near the Riviere Salee and in Grande 

 Terre. It contains a small museum, the Mnsce de Lherminier, which, 

 under the energetic superintendence of its dirccteur. Monsieur L. Vitrac, 

 promises to become of importance. 



"It was founded by the late Dr. L'Herminier, who was an ardent natu- 

 ralist, and discovered many new birds in this island and Martinique, 

 some 40 years ago. His collections, containing type-specimens, and 

 all his manuscript notes (I cannot ascertain that he ever published the 

 results of his observations), perished in a disastrous fire that swept over 

 Point a Pitre a few years since. Few birds are, as yet, in the museum ; 

 but there are very excellent and complete collections of Crustacea, etc., 

 and many fine specimens of aboriginal implements. It owes much of 

 its progressiveness to its present directeur, and to Messieurs L. Guesde 

 and St. Felix Colardeau, both of whom, one in archaeology and the other 

 in ornithology, take active part in promoting its advancement. 



"There are a few birds here I did not find in any other island. The 

 most prominent one is the Woodpecker, locally known as the ' Ta$peur\ 

 and named by Lesson Picus Llierminieri. I made a special excursion to 

 obtain this bird, which is not abundant anywhere, and only found in 

 certain localities. 



"Another bird, the 'Perdix croissant^ I found in this island, not hav- 

 ing seen it, or even heard of it, in any other. Of this species I brought 

 three alive to New York, of which two survived the passage. 



"My collections here were made during the months of August and 

 September 5 in obtaining them I visited the volcano and all adjacent 

 forests on the west side, a valley half way down the west coast, the 

 north side of the island, and places contiguous to Point a Pitre, and 

 about the southern end of Grande Terre. 



"To the gentlemen named above and to Monsieur G. Hurd, the Direc- 

 teur WInterieur, and the U. S. consul, Capt. Chas. Bartlett, I am indebted 

 for assistance in various matters. 



"FEEDEltICK A. OBER. 



"Beverly, Mass., Jan. 1, 1878." 



Fam. TUKDIDiE. 



1. Margaropa .herminieri (Lafr.). 

 " 1 Pied jaune.' 



" Length, $, 10J in.; alar extent, 17 ; wing, 5J. 

 "Length, 9, 10 in.; alar extent, 17 ; wing, 5f. 



"A resident of the wooded hills and mountains; found in Dominica 

 in the same localities as the Perdix, woods sufficiently free from under- 

 brush to afford places for scratching. The places where they have dis- 

 turbed the earth by scratching are frequently seen in the paths, where 

 the woods are thick, and in the open forest. They will come quickly at 



