NATURAL, SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 65 



and the white on the thi'oat and forepart of the neck, which are uniform with 

 the rest of the neck. 



117. Botaurus lbxtiginosus. This Bittern is occasionally met with about 

 the river banks, lagoons and swamps. Iris yellow ; feet grayish yellow; bill 

 yellowish green, blackish at the points. Length 26 inches, expanse 40, flex- 

 ure 12. Prevailing color brownish yellow, mottled and shaded darker with 

 reddish and brown and cinnamon brown ; a black stripe on each side of the 

 neck; chin and upper throat white, streaked with brown. I have not met 

 with the nest. 



114. Nyctiakdea gahjdkni. The Night Heron or Quok is often met with 

 about the lagoons and swamps. Length 25 to 30 inches, expanse 40 to 45, 

 flexure 12 to 13, bill and leg a little more than 3 inches. Iris red, orbits 

 green ; bill black ; legs and feet yellow, claws brown ; head, crest, scapulars 

 and back glossy metallic green ; long feathers of occipital crest forehead and 

 under parts white, passiug into pale slaty blue ; the wings and tail ashy blue. 

 The young differ in having the green of the upper parts replaced by dull 

 chocolate ; the coverts spotted white ; the neck and under parts streaked 

 with dusky: the quills tinged with reddish chocolate, and tipped whitish, 



120. Nyctherodius v-olaceus. The yellow-crowned Night Heron or Guinea- 

 hen Quok, is also of frequent occurrence. Dimensions rather less than the 

 preceding; the bill thicker and shorter. Iris reddish ; bill dark or blackish 

 green ; legs greenish yellow above, greenish black below ; the prevailing color 

 greyish leaden blue, lighter below ; top of the head and occipital feathers 

 yellowish white, surrounded with bluish black ; quills and tail dull lead co- 

 lor ; the young has the upper parts greenish olive, with central streaks and 

 terminal spots of brownish yellow; the under par's whitish, with yellowish 

 brown streaks. The night Herons build lower than the other species of Arde- 

 idce. The eggs of the two species are alike, rounded at both ends. 



TANTALlDsE. 



121. Ibis alba, the White Curlew. Ibis , the Black Curlew. The haunts 



of these two ( ? ) species of Ibis appear to be almost confined to the morass 

 borders of the. islets off Salt Island and Busiiy Park Lands, formed by the 

 growth of mangroves, and intersected by natural channels flowing between ; 

 the Curlews breed, and are so be found there at all seasons, only visiting the 

 mainland in August and sometimes in September. The first species is pure 

 white, with the first live wing quills tipped with greenish black. The 

 other is also white, with the head, neck, wings, and tail of a glossy greenish 

 black. The Hesh is equal to tha r . of the wild goose :; ' 



119. Ibis rubra. The red Curlew is a rare visitor on the south midland 

 coast ; but has been more frequently seen at the western end of the island. I 

 have never met with it. 



118. Platalea a.iaja. The roseate Spoonbill is of very rare occurrence. I 

 have only seen portions of oae, shot by Mr. M ixwell in Saint Elizabeth, many 

 years ago. f 



143. PHJENicoPTEEira ruber. The red Flamingo was formerly a frequent 

 visitor at the west end of the island, but rarely seen on the south midland or 

 eastern coast, t 



*(Notf. by Mr. Richard Hill.) It lias not beoii mentioned by naturalists that the Curlew has 

 the power or" indexing the iippir bill, so as lo ru:i it along the groove ot the lower mandible, and 

 clean out whatever may be adhering there. 



t (Note by Mr. lliil.) Occasionally specimens have been procured from the sulinas of Old Har- 

 bour. Twice, specimens have b^en brought mo, but s > bidly skinned as to be worthless for tha 

 cabinet. The color was nf a delicate equally tinted rosy red. 



+ (Note by Mr. Hilt.) In 18il a fine rose-tinted bird was Bhot at Passsgo Fort. The bird wag. 

 forwarded by Mr. Kirk p ttrick, but never eaTM to hind. Some of the feathers were separately, 

 sent and received 



1864.] 5 



