14G Messrs. A. andY,. Newton's Observations 



t 20. Grey Petchary. Tyronnvs duminicensis,\^\i.: Mus- 

 cicapa dominicensis, L. ; Aud. pi. 1 70. " Chicheryvvee," " Chich- 

 eree." 



The most conspicuous and common bird in the island, all over 

 which it is found. Its favourite station is the top of the spear- 

 like unexpanded frond of a tall Mountain-cabbage Tree, from 

 which place it will, in the breeding season, dart down to attack 

 almost any animal passing near, from a stray dog to an unhappy 

 " Gaulin" [Butorides virescens, Bp.). If the quarry be the latter, it 

 will make several well-directed stoops, and never leave it until it 

 has " brought it in," as the falconers say, in a cane-piece or bush ; 

 then, much pleased with its prowess, it returns to its look-out 

 station, celebrating its victory with cries of triumph. On one 

 occasion, in 1858, a Chicheree was seen to pursue a Gaulin out 

 to sea for a quarter of a mile and back again. The pretty little 

 Killie-killie [Tinnunculus sparverius, Vieill.) and the Black 

 Witch {Crotophaga ani, L.) are equally with the Gaulin the 

 objects of its hatred ; and as all four species have fairly loud 

 voices, the noise of these encounters is not inconsiderable. The 

 Petchary in particular is very clamorous, even when there is no 

 apparent need ; but he takes alarm from the domestic poultry, 

 and every morning before dawn, with his oft-repeated note, 

 sounding like the cry of a frightened Chimney Swallow {Huundo 

 rustica, L.), and evidently onomatopoeic, is as much the herald of 

 the coming day as Chanticleer himself : this noise he is as per- 

 tinacious as a Guinea-fowl in continuing till sun-down. He has 

 much the lookof the Ash-coloured Shrike {Lanius excubitor,Ij.), 

 his bold action and his style of colouring both contributing to 

 the resemblance. We have never observed that on any occasion 

 was the flame-coloured furrow on the head opened and displayed. 

 In the nestling plumage it is altogether wanting; but with 

 this exception, and that of the wing-coverts being edged with 

 pale brown, the bu*d then resembles the adult. The Chicheree 

 feeds on insects, catching them with great dexterity on the wing ; 

 but he also indulges largely on the black berries of a myrtle- 

 leaved parasite which grows plentifully on Orange-trees. The 

 seeds of this pass uninjured through the bird^s intestines, and 

 when dropped on favourable spots soon germinate, — the bird thus 



