The birds of Haiti and the Dominican Republic

The island that Columbus named Hispaniola, divided politically in modern times between the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti biologically is the most intersting of the Greater Antilles since in its great area of elevated mountains it has preserved remnants of life of an ancient type that elsewhere in the West Indies has disappeared. A series of specimens, particularly birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and plants, was collected by Dr. W. L. Abbott beginning in 1916. The rich collections obtained have all come to the Smithsonian Institution for the United States Nartional Museum, providing one of the finest collections extant from the island in question. As the Museum collections became extensive it was decided finally to make comprehensive accounts of the various groups covered so as to bring this information down to date.