THE BIRDS OF ANDROS ISLAND, BAHAMAS 63 



by the expressive name of "Poor Joe." We found it quite abundant in the 

 creeks and swashes, and at Fresh Creek collected what is very probably the young 

 of this species, hitherto undescribed. The top of the head is clove-brown with a 

 slightly greenish gloss, streaked with cinnamon-rufous. The rest of the head, 

 front of the neck, and the breast are white striped and mottled with sepia and 

 bistre. The back and the remainder of the neck are olive, having the feathers 

 edged with cinnamon-rufous. The tail is similar to the adult. Lower parts are 

 gray, the feathers being edged with white; and the scapulars and wings are clove - 

 brown, the coverts having an elliptical mark of wood-brown and being edged with 

 cinnamon-rufous; the rest of the wing-feathers having a deltoid mark of white at 

 the end. The bill is ochre yellow, darker above, and shading into black near the 

 end of the upper mandible. Legs olive. 



*62. Nycticorax nycticorax naevius Bodd. "Golden." — The Black- 

 crowned Night Heron is new to the Bahamas, and is said by the people to be abun- 

 dant, although we did not see very many individuals. Two were secured at Conch 

 Sound, March 30. 



^64. Nycticorax violaceus Linn. Yellow-crowned Night Heron. — 

 About as abundant as the last species. Both the above species of Nycticorax are 

 locally known as " Goldens," pronounced "gaidings." 



65. Phcenicopterus ruber Linn. — A few Flamingoes were seen on the western 

 coast of Andros in April; but later, in June, when the breeding season had com- 

 menced, we found them very abundant. A pair were shot on June 18, and they 

 were then ready to lay. We were told that one of their breeding places was near 

 Big Cabbage Creek, and a day was spent in an unsuccessful attempt to find their 

 nests. They were described to us, however, by reliable people, who also stated 

 that the birds sat upon their nests "like any other bird," and not with their legs 

 hanging down on either side. The birds are exceedingly shy, and in the open 

 swashes it is difficult to get within shot; for while stealing warily toward them, 

 you are very apt to hear a warning "gong, gong," and off flies the entire flock, 

 a streak of flame against the sky. The Flamingoes, when feeding, push their head 

 into the mud under water; and this fact is taken advantage of to secure them. 

 While the head is under water the negro walks rapidly forward, taking about ten 

 steps and then stopping. By that time the bird will probably lift its head and 

 look around. The negro stands motionless and screens his face with a branch of 

 a tree until the Flamingo, apparently satisfied that the new object is inanimate, 

 quietly resumes his feeding, and the negro advances as before. I was assured by 

 intelligent men that in this way they had sometimes captured the birds alive with 

 their hands. That the bird feeds in the manner described above is well shown by 

 its mouth, which is peculiarly adapted to sifting from the mud any mollusks or 

 crustaceans that might serve as food, and the gape of the bill when opened to its 

 fullest extent is only about half an inch. We were also told that a screen is some- 

 times built of palm leaves, and behind this the native can easily advance within 

 shot of the flocks. A large number of young birds are yearly destroyed by the 

 people for food. We ate the bodies of those we obtained and found the flavor most 

 delicious. We had for a long time been living practically upon flour and hominy, 



