White of Selbourne has somewhere expressed the gratification which
would be afforded to him by a sight of the _hirundines_ of the “hot and
distant island” of Jamaica. We know, in fact, exceedingly little of
the _biography_ of tropical animals—of those details of their habits,
which are to be known only by a close and continued observation of them
in their woodland homes. The present volume may perhaps contribute
an acceptable item to the amount of information, derived, as it is,
entirely from original investigation. Nearly two hundred species of
birds are thus ascertained to belong to the Jamaica Fauna, though of
several of these, the author can give only indications more or less
precise. He cannot doubt that many species have escaped the researches
both of himself and his friends, especially among the migrant visitors.
The valuable assistance, however, of a resident Ornithologist, whose
notes _pervade_ this volume, and to whom he would here express his deep
gratitude, have greatly diminished the omissions which must otherwise
have been unavoidable.
Perhaps a word of apology may be thought needful for the minuteness
with which the author has sometimes recorded dates, and other
apparently trivial circumstances, in his observations. It is because of
his conviction, that an observer is hardly competent to determine what
circumstance is trivial, and what is important: many a recorded fact
in science has lost half its value from the omission of some attendant
circumstance, which the observer either did not notice, or thought
irrelevant. It is better to err on the side of minuteness than of
vagueness.
The author takes this opportunity of proffering his cordial thanks
to those friends in Jamaica who kindly assisted his investigations;
and particularly to Andrew G. Johnston, Esq., of Portland, and George
Wilkie, Esq., of Spanish-town.
+London+, March, 1847.
SYNOPSIS
OF THE
BIRDS OF JAMAICA.
+Order.+—ACCIPITRES.
+Fam.+—VULTURIDÆ.
Cathartes aura.
+Fam.+—FALCONIDÆ.
Buteo borealis.
Falco anatum.
columbarius.
[Morphnus urubitinga.
[Pandion Carolinensis.
[Nauclerus furcatus.
+Fam.+—STRIGIDÆ.
Ephialtes grammicus.
Strix pratincola.
+Order.+—PASSERES.
+Fam.+—CAPRIMULGIDÆ.
Chordeiles Virginianus.
Nyctibius Jamaicensis.
pallidus.
+Fam.+—HIRUNDINIDÆ.
Acanthylis collaris?
Tachornis phœnicobia.
Cypselus niger.
Hirundo pœciloma.
euchrysea.
Progne Dominicensis.
+Fam.+—TODIDÆ.
Todus viridis.
+Fam.+—ALCEDINIDÆ.
Ceryle alcyon.
+Fam.+—NECTARINIADÆ.
Certhiola flaveola.
maritima.
+Fam.+—TROCHILIDÆ.
Lampornis mango.
Trochilus polytmus.
Mellisuga humilis.
+Fam.+—CERTHIADÆ.
Mniotilta varia.
+Fam.+—TURDIDÆ.
Merula leucogenys.
Jamaicensis.
[Turdus mustelinus.
Mimus polyglottus.
Trichas Marylandica.
Vermivora Pennsylvanica.
Seiurus Noveboracensis.
aurocapillus.
Parula Americana.
Sylvicola coronata.
pensilis.
æstiva.
eoa.
discolor.
Canadensis.
pannosa.
pharetra.
+Fam.+—MUSCICAPADÆ.
Setophaga ruticilla.
Myiobius pallidus.
tristis.
stolidus.
Tyrannus Dominicensis.
caudifasciatus.
crinitus.
Tityra leuconotus.
Vireo Noveboracensis.
Vireosylva olivacea.
+Fam.+—AMPELIDÆ.
[Ampelis Carolinensis.
Ptilogonys armillatus.
+Fam.+—CORVIDÆ.
Cyanocorax pileatus.
Corvus Jamaicensis.
+Fam.+—STURNIDÆ.
Quiscalus crassirostria.
Icterus leucopteryx.
[ ——?
[ ——?
Dolichonyx oryzivorus.
+Fam.+—FRINGILLADÆ.
Tanagra Zena.
Pyranga rubra.
Tanagrella ruficollis.
Euphonia Jamaica.
Coturniculus tixicrus.
Crithagra Brasiliensis.
Spermophila anoxantha.
olivacea.
bicolor.
adoxa.
Pyrrhula violacea.
[ Robinsonii?
[Guiraca Ludoviciana.
+Order.+—SCANSORES.
+Fam.+—PSITTACIDÆ.
Ara tricolor?
[ aracanga.
[ ararauna.
[ militaris.
Conurus flaviventer.
Psittacus agilis.
leucocephalus.
+Fam.+—PICIDÆ.
Picus varius.
Centurus radiolatus.
+Fam.+—CUCULIDÆ.
Saurothera vetula.
Piaya pluvialis.
Coccyzus Americanus.
seniculus.
Crotophaga ani.
+Order.+—GYRANTES.
+Fam.+—COLUMBADÆ.
Columba Caribbea.
rufina.
leucocephala.
Turtur leucopterus.
Zenaida amabilis.
Chamæpelia passerina.
Peristera Jamaicensis.
Geotrygon sylvatica.
montana.
Starnænas cyanocephala?
+Order.+—GALLINÆ.
+Fam.+—PHASIANIDÆ.
Numida meleagris.
+Fam.+—TETRAONIDÆ.
Ortyx Virginiana.
+Order.+—GRALLÆ.
+Fam.+—CHARADRIADÆ.
Ægialites melodus.
vociferus.
[ semipalmatus.
[Charadrius Virginiacus.
[Squatarola Helvetica.
[Strepsilas interpres.
+Fam.+—ARDEADÆ.
Egretta nivea.
candidissima.
cœrulea.
ruficollis.
Herodias virescens.
Ardeola exilis.
Nycticorax Americanus.
[Ardea Herodias.
[Egretta leuce?
[Botaurus minor.
[Platalea ajaja.
[Ibis rubra.
[Numenius longirostris.
[ Hudsonicus?
+Fam.+—SCOLOPACIDÆ.
Pelidna pusilla.
Actitis macularius.
Totanus chloropygius.
flavipes.
melanoleucus?
Gallinago Wilsoni.
[Tringa canutus.
[Calidris arenaria.
[Catoptrophorus semipalmatus.
[Rusticola minor.
+Fam.+—RALLIDÆ.
Aramus scolopaceus.
Rallus longirostris.
concolor.
Ortygometra Carolina.
minuta.
Jamaicensis.
Porphyrio Martinica.
Gallinula galeata.
Fulica Americana.
+Fam.+—RECURVIROSTRADÆ.
Himantopus nigricollis.
[Recurvirostra Americana.
+Order.+—ANSERES.
+Fam.+—ANATIDÆ.
Phœnicopterus ruber.
Dendrocygna arborea.
[ autumnalis.
Anas maxima.
Cyanopterus discors.
inornatus.
Erismatura spinosa.
[ ortygoides.
[Chen hyperboreus.
[Anser Canadensis.
[Dafila acuta.
[Pœcilonetta Bahamensis.
[Mareca Americana.
[Aix sponsa.
[Querquedula Carolinensis.
[Rhynchaspis clypeata.
[Chaulelasmus streperus.
[Anas obscura.
[ boschas.
[Cairina moschata.
[Oidemia perspicillata.
[Fuligula Americana.
[ affinis.
[ rufitorques.
[Nyroca leucophthalma.
+Fam.+—PELECANIDÆ.
Pelecanus fuscus.
Sula fusca.
[ fiber.
[ piscator.
[ parva.
Fregata aquilus.
Phaeton æthereus.
+Fam.+—LARIDÆ.
Thalasseus Cayanus.
Hydrochelidon fuliginosa.
[Megalopterus stolidus.
[Thalasseus Cantiacus.
[Sterna argentea.
[Hydrochelidon nigra.
[Xema atricilla.
+Fam.+—PROCELLARIADÆ.
[Thalassidroma ——?
+Fam.+—ALCADÆ.
[Alca ——?
+Fam.+—COLYMBIDÆ.
Podilymbus Carolinensis?
Podiceps Dominicus.