280 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 
The nest of this bird is constructed of fine roots, grasses, bits of 
bark, and cotton lint, lined with feathers and cotton. It is very 
compactly made, and is usually placed flat on a large horizontal 
branch, or in the fork of two large branches. The eggs are two, 
delicate light pinkish buff, with large spots of lilac and brown at 
the larger end. 
Elaenea martinica martinica (Linn.). Topknot. — On 
St. Vincent this bird is found on scrubby hillsides at low or moder¬ 
ate elevations. It is particularly common about Bowman’s village, 
and from there up to the high woods. I did not meet with it at 
Chateaubelair, but obtained a number about Peter’s Hope, where it 
occurred near the borders of the woodlands. In general habits this 
bird resembles Myiarchas tyrannulus , but is more active. One of 
its notes is a clear, long-drawn “ whe-e-ew ” with a falling inflection. 
It resembles a similar note of E. m. flavogcistra , but can be dis¬ 
tinguished on close acquaintance. Another call, often introduced 
by the one just mentioned, resembles the word “ peewhittler” with 
the accent on the last syllable, repeated two or three times. The 
song resembles, as Wells says, the words : “ Ladies , ladies , ladies , 
you^re lazy ” repeated over and over again. It has a peculiar tone, 
suggesting that of a wooden rattle. Every morning as soon as it 
begins to get light these birds begin their song, keeping it up almost 
without intermission until well after sunrise. I have never heard 
them sing at any other time. On the Grenadines the songs of this 
bird and of Mimus gilmis , which is most noisy at the same time, are 
the most characteristic of all the bird songs. In fact there are no 
other songsters there except Merida gymnophthcdma which is an 
evening singer and not very common. 
The nest and eggs are exactly like those of E. m. flavogastra. 
Elaenea martinica barbadensis (Cory). Peeavhittler.— 
Hughes (1750, p. 73) says, speaking of “The Pivet ”: “Altho’ 
this bird feeds upon fruit, its bill is of the same make with those 
of the carnivorous kind ; and it intirely subsists by berries or 
suchlike fruit of trees .... A Pivet is about the bigness and colour 
of our largest kind of sparrows [ Pyrrhulagra barbadensis ] and 
hath a wild chirping note.” 
Schomburgk (’48, p. 681) does not give this bird as a resident, 
although he mentions it as Elania pagana. 
The Peewhittler is common on Barbados wherever there are 
