Research Items

Abstract

Mammals and Birds from Haitian Caves. A small collection of bones of mammals and birds were obtained in 1921 by Mr. J. S. Brown and Mr. W. S. Burbank during geological studies under the U.S. Geological Survey for the Republic of Haiti, from two caves situated between 3 and 4 kilometres N.E. of St. Michel and 600 metres above sea-level. These bones have now been described respectively by Mr. G. S. Miller, junr., and Mr. A. Wetmore (Smithsonian Miscell. Coll. vol. lxxiv. Nos. 3 and 4). Rodents were the more plentiful among the mammals, the most abundant being Isolobodon portoricensis, Allen, which also occurs in Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Two new genera are established: Alphaetreus, with A. montanus, n.sp., as genotype, which is allied to Plagiodontia and Isolobodon; and Ithydontia, genotype I. levir, n.sp., allied to Isolobodon. Brotomys voratus, Miller, was also present as well as a ground sloth, doubtfully referred to the genus Megalocuus, and a few unidentified mammals, while man was represented by the head of a femur and an implement made of chert. Early man, however, though known to have used these rodents as food, does not appear in this case to have been responsible for the presence of their remains in the caves. Their importation would seem to be due to a huge extinct barn owl, which Mr. Wetmore names Tyto ostologa, n.sp. Possibly the Chcsmepelia passerina, Crotophaga ani, and Tolmachus gabbii, also present in the caves, were further victims of the owl.