^61 6 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS OF GRENADA. 



They breed in colonies, several nests on the same tree, the Mango 

 being a favorite for the purpose ; sometimes they select the flower stems 

 of the Palmiste, and on the little islands they build on the cactus 

 clumps ; the nest is rather a rude cup formed of dry roots and straws 

 well plastered with cow-dung, in which they lay their eggs, measuring 

 1.02 inches by .7G inch, 1 inch by .72 inch, 1.10 inches by .74 inch; of a 

 pale greenish-blue, with beautiful lines, blotches, and spots of purple, 

 drab and dark brown. 



20. Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Linn.). Bobolink; Reed Bird. 



S Length, 7A inches; expanse, 12 inches; wing, 3^ inches. 



This bird was shot on the eastern side of the island ; it is quite new 

 to me ; it is one of five seen ; they had evidently but just arrived and 

 were feeding on grass-seeds; two of them were shot. No doubt it will 

 prove to be a well-known species, but it is quite new to Grenada. [This 

 species has not been observed before in the Lesser Antilles. — G. N. L.] 



Family TYRANNIDJE. 



21. Elainea martinica (Linn.). Top-knot Pippiree. 



S Length, 6f inches ; expanse, lOJ inches ; wing, 3^ inches. 

 This active little bird is very familiar, frequenting the vicinity of 

 houses and the hedges and borders of the woods ; it is very quick in 

 all its motions, darting from branch to branch or at some flying insect 

 with astonishing rapidity ; it is very pugnacious ; with crest erect and 

 eyes flashing, it will pounce like a fury on a bird twice its size and in- 

 flict several thrusts with its sharp little bill. On calm still evenings 

 several of these birds may be observed in company with others of the 

 same family, si)ringing a few feet into the air and returning to their 

 perches after capturing the winged ants or other insects on which they 

 feed. The voice of this little bird is the first to be heard in the early 

 morning from 4.30 to 7 a. m., and has been compared to these words: 

 ^^ Ladies, ladies, ladies, youh-e Jasy.'''' During the rest of the day this 

 note is seldom heard, but occasionally it utters a single prolonged note, 

 and when joinecl by its mate it gives out a series of joyful twitterings 

 which would be difficult to render in words. The nest of this bird is 

 truly a beautiful structure, recalling the lines- 



''Mark it well within, witbont! 



No tool biid he that wronght, no knife to cut, 



No nail to tix, no bodkin to insert, 



No glue to join : bis little beak was all ; 



And yet bow neatly lini.sbed ! " 



It is generally placed in the fork of a small branch, and sometimes 

 ^' saddled" on a large limb ; the hog-plum tree {spondias) is often selected ; 

 in shape the nest is like a round shallow cup, measuring about 3 

 inches in diameter and ] inch deep ; it is composed outwardly of skel- 



