PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 273 



^' Of unsuspicious demeanor, this bird will allow a near approach ; if 

 it flies, it is but for a short distance, to a low tree or thick shrub, whcro, 

 if unmolested, it hops about with ai)parently aimless intent, though 

 keeping a good lookout for its food, butterflies, moths, etc. 



" Very common on the hillside beyond the Carenage." 



24. Crotophaga ani, Linn. 



" ' Corbeau.' Abundant ; resident. 



" Length, ^ , 15 in, ; alar extent, 17 ; wing, 0. 



" Length, 9 , 14 in. ; alar extent, IG^ ; wing, 5i. 



"Called the < Tick-bird' in St. Vincent; here the 'Corbeau', French 

 for Eaven. Said to have been blown over from Trinidad in a gale somo 

 years ago. It has increased wonderfully ; not held in favorable repute ; 

 eats ticks, bugs, etc., but also eats corn and guinea-grass grain. The 

 same stupid unsuspicious bii-d everywhere; breeds abundantly; grega- 

 rious. Where one goes and persistently calls, the rest of the flock, from 

 to 12, will surely follow. In a tree or bush they cluster close together ; 

 have a squeaking cry. 



" They build a large loose nest, and lay in it eggs of a greenish color. 

 A curious habit of theirs is to build a second nest upon one already 

 fdled with eggs. The only nest I have examined had not a full comple- 

 ment of eggs, and I cannot tell just what number they lay." 



Fam. STRIGID^. 



25. Strix flammea var. nigrescens, L.awr. 

 " Owl ; ' Jumbie Buxl.' Eare. 



"Length, ^, 12 in.; alar extent, 30J; wing, 10. 



" In different parts of the island are the towers of ancient wind-mills, 

 which, in various stages of ruin and dilapidation, are going to decay. 

 Being made of stone, and generally covered with ivy and running ^'ines, 

 without roof and full of holes, they offer excellent places of abode for 

 the owls, and there is rarely a ruin without its occupant to frighten 

 the negroes to the verge of insanity with its nocturnal hootings. From 

 a superstitious dread of the ' Jumbie bird,' and from the fact that these 

 old mills are well hung with the nests of ' Jack Spaniard ' — a wasp, it is 

 difBcult to get a negro to climb into a tower to dislodge the owl. 



" I am indebted for this one to Mr. Goddard, the manager of the Estate 

 of Clarke's Court." 



Fam. FALCONID^. 



26. Paudion halisetus (Linn.). 



"An infrequent winter visitor on the east or Atlantic coast." 



27. Buteo pennsylvanicus (Wils.). 



" Length, 9 , 15i in. ; alar extent, 35 ; wing, 11. 



"At this time (March 25) it is engaged in incubation. Not abundant; 

 resident." 



Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 18 Feb. 13,18 79. 



