Birds of Montserrat. 491 



10. CoccYZUs MINOR. ' Quakiufif Bird. 



Wherever I went I heard the peculiar and unmistakable 

 cry of this elegant-looking bird proceeding from the wild 

 guavas and other tall shrubs on the partially cleared slopes of 

 the mountains, the wooded ravines, and the verge of the 

 primaeval woods. It is by no means a shy bird ; on the con- 

 trary, when disturbed it generally exhibits itself as a target 

 in some conspicuous position, such as the topmost branch of 

 one of the shrubs. My own researches in Montserrat were 

 confined principally to the mountains, of which, indeed, the 

 island almost entirely consists ; and I do not know whether 

 the Quaking Bird is equally common on the sparse lowlands 

 near the sea, 



11. TiNNUNCULUs CARiBBiEARUM. Sparrow-Hawk or KiUic- 

 Hawk. 



This species closely resembles our own familiar Kestrel, aud 

 forms one of the most conspicuous features in the bird-life of 

 Montserrat. Wherever one strolled on the slopes of the 

 mountains, or on the low ground near the sea, two or three of 

 these birds were in sight, hovering overhead ; and they would 

 occasionally come down with a swoop and alight in the most 

 audacious manner, as if unable to control their curiosity, in 

 a conspicuous position on the nearest tree. 



On one occasion, when staying for the night at Rich- 

 mond, not far from the shore, I fired at two of these Hawks 

 which were engaged in mortal combat overhead, and, bringing 

 them both down, foimd that while one was killed the other 

 was quite uninjm^ed, biit had its claws so firmly fixed in the 

 flesh of its antagonist that it was unable to make its escape. 



The incident reminded me of another, which occurred in 

 Cumberland many years before, while I was feeding a Kestrel 

 very similar to this. 



The bird cast its eye upwards, uttering a peculiar cry ; and 

 following the direction of its vision, I saw a mere speck against 

 the sky, another Hawk hovering overhead. Thinking for a 

 moment of the wonderful power, whether of vision or instinct, 

 which enabled my captive to recognize its kinsman at such 



