PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEOM. 273 



" Of imsuspicious demeanor, this bird will allow a near approach ; if 

 it flies, it is but for a short distance, to a lo^v tree or thick shrub, where, 

 if unmolested, it hops about with apparently aimless intent, though 

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



"Very common on the hillside beyond the Carenage." 



24. Crotophaga ani, Liun. 



"'Corbeau.' Abundant; resident. 



" Length, <? , 15 in. ; alar extent, 17 ; wing, G. 



"Length, 9, 14 in.; alar extent, 1G.J; wing, 5i. 



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

 for Kaven. Said to have been blown over from Tiiuidad in a gale some 

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

 eats ticks, bugs, etc., but also eats com and guinea-grass gi-ain. The 

 same stupid unsuspicious bird everywhere ; breeds abundantly ; grega- 

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

 6 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 

 fiUed with eggs. The only nest I have examined had not a fuU comple- 

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



Fam. STRIGID^. 



25. Strix flammea var. nigrescens, Lawr. 

 " Owl ; ' Jumbie Bird.' Eare. 



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



" In different parts of the island are the towers of ancient windmills, 

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

 Being made of stone, and generally covered with ivy and running vines, 

 without roof and fuU of holes, they ofier 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 

 difficult to get a negro to cUmb 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 haliaetus (Linn.). 



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



27. Buteo pennsylvanicus (Wils.). 



" Length, $ , 15 J in. ; alar extent, 35 ; mng, 11. ♦ 



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

 resident." 



Proc. Xat. Mus. 78 18 Feb. 13, 15^79. 



