6662 



Birds. 



ova of the female were still minute ; and in skinning them I noticed 

 a rank odour common to many Corvidae. A female was brought to 

 me still alive, and apparently uninjured except a fracture of the leg. 

 It showed not the slightest pugnacity when handled, and lived 

 several hours. It had not any notion of applying the uninjured foot 

 to a flat surface, but kept it grasped. I put it on a perch : whether 

 from pain or weakness T do not know, but it immediately slipped 

 round, and hung suspended head downwards by its sound foot for 

 some time, and then fell. 1 do not regard this as a satisfactory proof 

 that the bird habitually rests in this position ; but it is not impossible, 

 because, according to the ordinary theory of perching, that iu which 

 the weight of the body is brought to bear is, with most birds, the 

 easiest position ; whereas this bird made no effort to keep upright, 

 but immediately slid round, as if that were the most available posture 

 for holding on. Of its nidification I have as yet learnt nothing. 

 Should this species prove new to Science, as well as an addition to 

 our Jamaica list, I would propose 'trigeminus ' as the specific name, 

 if it is not already appropriated. 



" I have discovered nothing with regard to the second, and I pre- 

 sume smaller, black species you allude to. Had you any particulars 

 about it ? 



" A second bird, rather abundant in this district, and not included 

 in your list, is a sober-suited olive-coloured little fellow, that keeps 

 pretty much to the higher branches of lofty trees, though I have not 

 unfrequently met with it on less elevated positions. From its strong, 

 compressed, deeply toothed bill, I was at first inclined to suppose it 

 might belong to Mr. Swainson's extensive genus Thamnophilus ; but 

 a better acquaintance with its habits and structure has convinced me 

 that it should probably be classed among his Ampelidae, and some- 

 where near Pteruthius perhaps, though 1 am unable to refer it satis- 

 factorily to any of his genera. Not to fill up my letter with a detailed 

 description, which I propose forwarding with the specimens, I may 

 add that the head is a gray dubious olive, which becomes greener on 

 the back. The quills and tail smoky black, with olive edges and the 

 under parts dingy yellow. But its chief characteristics are the dis- 

 proportionate size and thickness of the head, which seems only owing 

 to the arrangement of the feathers, for it would not be suspected from 

 the dried skin. I hope to forward an outline taken from a specimen 

 when quite recent. The gray-blue of the beak is singularly in 

 contrast with the prevailing tints of the plumage. The bird is tame 

 and fearless, and, if perching low, may be easily approached ; and is 



