20



Mr. J. L. Bonhote,



locally as the Cock Robin. It is to be found in some numbers

round every clump of bush and seems to feed chiefly on berries,

the black berry referred to when dealing with the Grosbeak being

also a favourite with this bird. It is an extremely handsome

species, reminding one by its size and bearing of our Chaffinch :

in the male the whole of the head and throat are black with the

exception of a white superciliary streak and malar stripe, and a

patch of white shading into yellowish to form a median line on the

throat. The back, wings, and tail, are jet black, the wing-coverts

and outer tail feathers being broadly edged with white ; the nape

and rump are deep chestnut, as is also the chest, which fades away

to bright yellow on the breast; the rest of the underparts are

whitish, shading to olive on the flanks. The female is throughout

of a dull yellowish green and the young resemble her. I have

never found the nest of this species, but from the large pre-

ponderence of males at Abaco last March I feel pretty certain

thej'’ must have been nesting at the time. Flying about in small

flocks they may generally be found by listening for the call note,

which is a high-pitched “ twee ” frequently uttered, especially

during the early spring, when the males are very pugnacious ; it

does not appear to have any noticeable song. As this bird is

frequently caught alive I have on several occasions had one in

my possession, but they did not live long, and I never succeeded

in getting them on to artificial food, but have had to feed them

entirely on wild berries ; they get very tame, but their beauty is

their only attraction.


When wandering along the pine barren, apparently

destitute of birds, a loud laughing note may possibly ring in your

ear and in front of you on a bough may be noticed a large

Flycatcher, about the size of a Thrush, its colour and mode of

flight being very similar to that of our common species ; again

you will hear the note and the bird is gone, only to a neigh¬

bouring tree in all probability, but so sudden and jerky are its

movements that the eye can scarcely follow it as it goes behind

one tree and round another, finally coming to an abrupt standstill.

Such is the Bahama King Bird, * Pitangus, locally known as the



Piiattgus bahamensis— Mus. Cat. Vol. XIV., p. 180.



