1886.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, 621 



34. Crotophaga aui Linu. Corheau. 



5 Length, 15 inches ; expanse, 16-i inches ; wing, inches. 

 Abundant everywhere; gregarious; feeds on crickets and other in- 

 sects ; cleans the ticks otf cattle ; and is very destructive to the fields 

 of Indian corn. The nesting habits of this bird are peculiar. The 

 number of eggs laid by each bird cannot be ascertained, as several of 

 them lay in the same nest. The eggs when first laid are of a uniform 

 sea-green, but after a day or two they become coated with a white 

 chalky substance, and this, in turn, becomes scratched by the feet of 

 the birds, giving the eggs a strange appearance. The nest is first 

 rather flat, in which six or seven eggs are laid; then another nest is 

 built over them, and about the same number of eggs deposited ; this is 

 also built over, and more eggs laid. I once found a nest in an orange 

 tree which had four layers of eggs. How the hatching is effected I 

 have not ascertained. I have seen three of the birds sitting together 

 on the nest while several others were perched close to it. They often 

 cover the eggs with dry leaves. I believe that after the top layer of 

 eggs is hatched and the young reared the nest is scratched away- 

 down to the second layer, which is then hatched, as I have often found 

 fragments of the nest and egg-shells under a tree which I had been 

 watching for some time, and noticed the nest reduced in size. The 

 eggs measure 1.28 inches by 1.04 inches and 1.32 inches by 1.02 inches. 



Family STKIGID^. 



35. Strix flammea, var. nigrescens, Lawr. Owl. Chawan. 



S Length, llf inches ; expanse, 32 inches ; wing, 9f inches. 



Owing to its nocturnal habits, this bird is more often heard than seea, 

 though it is well distributed about the island. It frequents ruined 

 buildings, decayed " groo-groo " and other trees, and the dark valleys 

 in the mountains. The R. C. church in Grenville was a favorite haunt 

 of this owl. During a midnight service there I have observed several 

 of them flying in and out, engaged in feeding their young, which were 

 on the walls, and making a loud hissing noise all the while. The owl 

 has been regarded with superstitious awe in many countries, and here 

 it is not exempt from the same, as there are many who still believe that 

 the screech of this bird heard near to a dwelling bodes evil or death to 

 one of the inmates ; certainly its cry heard " at dead of night" has 

 rather a weird and "uncanny" sound, but it is quite as natural and 

 harmless as the familiar warble of the house- wren. The food of the 

 owl consists of small lizards, mice, and bats ; also, some kinds of fruit, 

 particularly that of the almond tree. It is a great robber of the pigeon 

 cot, taking the young from the nest. 



The eggs of the owl are two, nearly spherical in form, and of a dull 

 white color. 



