Sir W. Jardine on the Ornithology of the Island of Tohago. 79 



and look down with deliberate stupidity ; their flights are short 

 and frequent/^ 



Prionites bahamensis, Swain, (King of the Wood.) s. 



We have never received this closely-allied species from the con- 

 tinent of South America ; Swainson gives the Bahama Islands as 

 its principal locality, and in addition to those from Tobago we 

 possess specimens from the island of Trinidad ; one of the latter 

 is varied on the wings with white. 



In vol. vi. p. 321 of these ' Annals ^ we gave an account of the 

 habits of this species from the notes of our correspondent, to 

 which we refer our readers ) the following additional information 

 in regard to their nidification was received in a subsequent letter. 

 " I think I can now happily afford you all the information you 

 require regarding this bird; on the 11th of June I shot No. 172, 

 and found her nest close by from the curring sound kept up by 

 the young. After examining the diameter of the entrance, which 

 was only 2^ inches, I dug into a marl bank 5 feet direct back, 

 and 5 feet farther at a direct angle, the passage considerably 

 larger at the angle and again considerably larger at the farthest 

 extremity, where I found three young huddled up on the top 

 of a moving mountain of maggots, claws and remains of beetles 

 and various other insects. They feed also upon various kinds 

 of berries : I found in the stomach of the parent a berry of 

 which the French used to make soup when in the island, and 

 which the negroes use at this day. The cat killed one of the 

 young after flying about the house quite domesticated : they 

 look upon man as their natural protector, and have become 

 very tame ; I have taught them to eat pottage, but they prefer 

 animal food. All their food is taken in the point of the bill, 

 and with a toss of the head as it were pitched into the throat*. 

 They are particularly fond of lizards, snakes, &c., and must at 

 times dig in the gi'ound after insects, as I have sometimes sur- 

 prised one, and on examination found the bill dirty as high as 

 the eyes. My object in rearing the young w^as to ascertain if 

 they actually stript the two tail-feathers with their bills, which 

 is a common report ; but having no convenient aviary, and un- 

 willing to let them come altogether under the mercy of the cat, 

 I have them in a small cage which destroys the tail as fast as it 

 grows : if they succeed in thriving with me, I will send them home 

 alive in the spring ; they will feed well on the intestines of fowls 

 or anything of that nature, and I have no doubt of their living 

 in Europe by care.'' 



* This is an important fact ; the same manner of taking the food is prac- 

 tised by the Toucans. 



