4-46 Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



22. Dendrocygna arborea (Linnaeus). Antillean Tree Duck. 

 Great Inagua, *\Vatlings Island. 



Not uncommon, but exceedingly shy and retiring, as it is so per- 

 sistently hunted for food. A deserted nest was found February 20 at 

 Horse Pond, near Mathewtown. It was built between the roots of 

 an upturned tree in the middle of the swamp, where the water was 

 about two and one-half feet deep, and composed of a few sticks and 

 dry leaves, with some traces of the original downy lining. It con- 

 tained four addled eggs, white in color, but much soiled, two of which 

 showed signs of incubation. Their shells were exceedingly hard and 

 tough. Glimpses of an old Tree Duck were had, but it was too shy 

 to permit approach within gunshot. 



23. Colinus virginianus floridanus (Coues). Florida Bob-white, 

 New Providence. 



Not uncommon in the pine barrens back of the Blue Hills, but much 

 oftener heard than seen. The nature of the ground makes it very 

 difficult to secure them, even with dogs, as rapid walking is out of the 

 question, except along the roads. The specimens which were made 

 up as skins were brought to us alive by Mr. Charles Lightbourne. 



24. Rallus crepitans coryi (Maynard). Bahama Clapper Rail. 

 *Great Inagua, *\Vatlings Island, Andros, Abaco. 



This is a common species throughout the Bahamas, wherever 

 mangrove swamps adapted to its needs occur. Here the birds may be 

 heard calling every day, but it is seldom that a glimpse is had of them, 

 so closely do they keep themselves concealed in the dense and tangled 

 growth. Although numerous on Great Inagua, all our efforts to 

 secure specimens there proved fruitless, and not until we reached 

 Watlings Island were we successful. Here we found one small lagoon, 

 bordered by a thick but low growth of mangrove shoots, where, as 

 shown by their tracks, they evidently came out to feed. We built 

 blinds, and spent many hours in waiting, but were rewarded by 

 securing a series of seven specimens. Two more were taken later at 

 other localities, but merely by chance. In the oviduct of a female 

 shot March 22 there was an egg ready for deposit. Its ground-color 

 was light clay, rather sparingly spotted and speckled with dull reddish 

 brown and obscure lilac shell-markings, the ground-color exactly 

 matching some eggs of the Wayne Clapper Rail from Florida. It 

 measured 1.72 by 1.19 in. 



