24 
BIRDS OF JAMAICA. 
The following is a list of the 42 species which are believed to be absolutely pecu 
liar to Jamaica and may be denominated “ autocthonous.” 
AUTOCTHONOUS BIRDS OF JAMAICA. 
No. in Gen. 
List. 
1 Corvus jamaicensis 1 
2 Quiscalus crassirostris 2 
*3 Nesopsar nigerrimus. 3 
4 Icterus leucopteryx. 5 
5 Pyrrhulagra ruficollis. 10 
6 — anoxantha. 11 
*7 Pyrrhuphonia jamaica. 14 
8 Spindalis nigricephala. 15 
*9 Glossiptila ruficollis. 17 
10 Certhiola flaveola. 18 
11 Turdus jamaicensis. 19 
12 — aurantius. 20 
13 Mimus hilli. 22 
14 Dendroeca pharetra. 34 
15 —- eoa. 36 
16 Vireo modestus. 45 
*17 Laletes osburni. 46 
18 Myiadectes solitarius. 48 
19 Petrochelidon euchrysea. 52 
20 Elainea fallax. 54 
21 Myiopagis cotta. 55 
No. in Gen. 
List. 
22 Pitangus jamaicensis. 56 
23 Blacicus pallidus 57 
24 Myiarchus stolidus. 58 
25 ' — barbirostris. 59 
26 Platypsaris niger. 61 
*27 Hylonax validus. 62 
28 Lampornis mango. 63 
*29 Aithurus polytmus. 64 
*30 Siphonorhis americanus. 73 
*31 Hyetornis pluvialis 76 
32 Saurothera vetula 77 
33 Centurus radiolatus. 80 
34 Todus viridis. 82 
35 Chrysotis collaria. 83 
36 * — agilis. 84 
37 Conurus nanus. 85 
38 Ara gossii. 86 
39 Asio grammicus. 88 
40 Leptoptila jamaicensis. 150 
41 Geotrygon cristata. 151 
42 CEstrelata jamaicensis. 192 
The eight species marked with an asterisk (*) belong to Genera ( Nesopsar , Pyrrhu¬ 
phonia Glossaptila, Laletes, Hylonax, Aithurus, Siphonorhis and Hyetornis ) which are 
restricted to the Island of Jamaica and are not known elsewhere. 
On examining the list we see at once that, as might have been expected, nearly all 
the species named in it belong to x\merican genera, and are more or less closely allied 
to species met with in North, Central or South America. The process of modification 
during past ages must, however, have been considerable, as it has been sufficient to 
create a generic difference in the eight instances above mentioned. But the case of 
Todus is still more remarkable, as its pronounced characters are such as to necessi¬ 
tate its elevation to the rank of a separate Family (Todidse). Todus, however, 
is not absolutely confined to Jamaica, as, like Spindalis and Saurothera, it has repre¬ 
sentatives slightly modified in form in other Islands of the Antilles. 
Of the 57 ‘Constant Residents’ which are not confined to Jamaica, but are also 
met with elsewhere, it is only necessary to say that they are all American forms 
although in a few cases they extend their ranges into the Old World. 
The Winter-Visitors, which I make about 52 in number, are composed chiefly of 
members of the three groups of Wood-warblers (Mniotiltidse), Ducks (Anatidae), 
and Waders (Charadriidae and Scolopacidse) which breed in North America and 
migrate south in the winter. The Occasional-Visitors and stragglers I reckon at 
about 43, but, their number will, no doubt, be largely increased when greater 
attention is paid to the Birds of Jamaica. 
On the whole the general character of the Birds of Jamaica shows that the Island 
is part of the Antillean Sub-region of the great Neotropical Region, as has been 
explained in the “ Geography of Mammals. ”* The main features of the Avifauna 
are Neotropical, as proved by the Tanagers, Humming birds, Parrots and Pigeons. 
But there are also in Jamaica some remnants of an older Avifauna, as testified by 
such peculiar forms as Laletes, Siphonorhis and Glossiptila, and above all by the 
Family Todidae wdiich is absolutely restricted to the Greater Antilles. 
It should be always remembered, however, that in the winter-season the ordinary 
facies of the Jamaican ‘ Ornis ’ is materially altered by a rush of immigrants from 
the north, wdiich essentially modify the Avifauna at that time of year. 
*“The Geography of Mammals.” By W. L. Sclater and P. L. Sclater. London 
1899 
