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The sparrows with throats like meadowlarks are probably the 
dickcissel which you will remember from your work in Illinois. It goes 
in migration to South America and then returns in the spring to the 
Mississippi Valley. 
The third form of parrot is interesting. I think I told you that 
Martilde said that there was a smaller kind present in the other place that 
we visited. From your description you have specimens of the blueheaded 
parrot which belongs in another genus Pionua . This group has the tail 
shorter than Amazona . It is the first record of them for the section where 
you are. 
I am happy indeed to learn that the land rails are now represented 
by a good series. Ten should certainly be sufficient to prove the kind. 
It is not impossible, of course, that they represent a new fora. They are 
©JLusive but as I often said eventually they become accustomed to intrusion 
in their haunts and then are not difficult to obtain. I have hunted them 
on many occasions without success and then again have secured specimens 
without the slightest difficulty. 
The pale form of ground dove, if it is the same size as the other, 
is probably a female or a young one. If it is smaller it may be the species 
Columb.lgallina a&nuta . 
It xs interesting to have the record of the blue black grassquit 
as extension of range. This is a species that is found widely in the American 
Tropics wherever there i3 suitable open country for it. In some places I 
have found it tremendously abundant but it is often shy so that it may be 
difficult at times to find. The slightly larger bird that you describe is 
probably the same as the one that I secured one day near the mouth of Mata 
Puerco where it was in some bushes among the cocoanut palms adjacent to the 
mangrove swamp. 
We are now here at the edge of summer with the bulk of the 
migration past among the birds and pleasant warm weather. 
If you pack dry specimens be sure to put napthalene with them 
as this helps prevent mold when the rains come. If you are to stay longer 
it may be desirable to pack some of the things that you have and send them 
up now if that arrangement can be made as it is better to keep them as dry 
as possible. If you do this remember not to pack the smaller birds in too 
deep a box unless you put in partitions to take off pressure or place them 
in smaller boxes which are then put in the larger c cnt ainers. 
I believe that it will be desirable to send up some of your 
things now if this can be done. 
Sincerely yours. 
A. Wetraore, 
Assistant Secretary. 
Ip 
