73 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



COL YMBIDM. 



184. PoDiiYMBOS podiceps. The Black Gorget Grebe is often met with on 

 Rio Cobre in its entire course, and is sometimes, though rarely, seen on the 

 Cattle Ponds in the lowlands ; it, however, abounds in the highland lakes, 

 ponds and sedgy portions of mountain streams. 



1 have not had the same opportunities of observing the habits of this sppoies 

 aa I have had with the common Diver ; but their general habits and nidifica- 

 tion appear to be much alike. The nest of both species is a floating platform 

 or mass of sticks, leaves and water weeds 15 to 20 inches wide, and the same 

 m height, flattened at the top, with a slight depression in the middle, on 

 which three or four oval eggs are deposited. These are chalky white, with a 

 glaucous tinge beneath, though usually discolored by the damp materials of 

 the nest. The dimensions are \\ by ]. 



185. Podiceps dominictjs. The Diver frequents the ponds on the Cattle 

 Pens, in all parts of the island. The nest is similar in construction and ma- 

 terials, but rather smaller than that of the Grebe. The eggs are usually four, 

 oval, or oval-elongated, and measure \\ to If by rather less than an inch. 

 This species breeds from April to December, rearing several broods. Soon 

 after they are hatched, the young leave the nest and are carried about the 

 pond under the wings of the parent birds, where they are securely held in 

 swimming and diving. I once shot an old bird passing on the wing from one 

 pond to another, and found a young bird with it, which must have been 

 carried on its back. The same nest is used during the season, with slight ad- 

 ditions after each brood ; and is always pulled to pieces by the old birds when 

 they have done with it. 



AN AT I DAI. 



Ansee hyperboeeus and Beknicla canadensis are occasional visitors in con- 

 nection with a severe winter on the continent. 



144. Dekpeccygna abboeea. The Whistling Duck is a permanent resi- 

 dent, breeding in the lagoons and morasses on mangrove stools and in clumps 

 of reeds and rushes, laying ten or twelve eggs. It is easily domesticated, 

 but it is necessary to take off the first pinion of one wing to prevent it join- 

 ing the passing wild flocks. They breed more than once during the year, as 

 numbers of them are taken before they become fully fledged, and brought 

 into the towns for sale from May to December. In lb?4 and 1835, at a pen 

 on the St. John's Road, where there is a large pond, some Whistling Ducks 

 were kept among the domestic poultry ; they frequently brought into the 

 poultry yard, in the early dawn, small parties of the Wild Duck, which ac- 

 companied the tame ones without any shyness or alarm into the poultry 

 house, and were thus secured. They feed by night as well as by day. Their 

 whistling cry is often heard passing over head at night. I have frequently, 

 on moonlight, nights in January and Febiuary, shot them in numbers, 

 whilst feeding in the guinea cornfields. 



] have had the eggs from Passage Fort, but I find no note of them, and my 

 recollection of them is too uncertain to venture upon their description. 



145. Dekdeocygna ad'tumnalis. I have been told that the Red-legged 

 "Whistling Duck is sometimes met with in some of the eastern parishes, but 

 I have never met with any others than those imported into Kingston from the 

 Spanish Main ; and I have not seen any of these for several years. 



146. Anas maxima. The Green-back Mallard, whether a hybrid or a va- 

 riety of A. boschas, is apparently apeimanent resident in the island, almost 

 restricted to the deep recesses of the morasses and lagoons at the west end of 

 the island. 1 have never seen a specimtu of this duck, hut '.here have been 



[March 



