on some Bahama Birds.



2 3



me of confirming this habit. We have, however, not yet come to

an end of the peculiarities of this most eccentric bird. In its nest¬

ing habits, about which much remains yet to be learnt, it carries

the idea of co-operation to an extent unknown, I believe, in

any other species of bird : for the whole flock builds a nest in

common, in which the eggs and young are hatched and reared

by the community. I can find no detailed account as to whether

the species is polygamous or not, nor the number of eggs laid,

etc. I have only come across two nests, which are large untidy

structures, built of twigs and apparently without any lining ; but

unfortunately in my first nest the inhabitants had flown, and

the second nest was placed high up in a species of cactus and

absolutely unapproachable without destroying the plant. At the

time I found it many and perhaps all the young were flying, but

the}'' used still to return every uiglitto roost in or near the nest. It is

very surprising that so little definite information should he forth¬

coming about a bird so common and conspicuous, an inhabitant

of the cattle pastures, and with habits unparalleled among the

whole of the class Aves.


As the Sapsucker restricts its wanderings to the coppetand

gardens, so the Hairy Woodpecker (P.villosus) is only found, and

that sparingly, in the pine barrens. It is a black and white bird

resembling in size and colouring our Greater Spotted Woodpecker,

and apparently of very similar habits. Several other Woodpeckers

are found locally on some of the other islands, but I did not have

the good fortune to come across them. There are two other

species which may almost always be met with in the barrens ; the

one the Yellow-throated Warbler ( D. dominica), is apparently only

a winter visitor, but cannot breed * at any great distance away as

itis back again before the end of August; the other, the Pine

Warbler ( D. pinus ), is a resident, and has been separated into a

distinct race. The former is a beautiful little grey Warbler with

a bright yellow throat and chest margined with black ; the under¬

parts are white heavily blotched with black on the flanks. It goes

about diligently searching for insects on the topmost branches of

the pines, reminding me by its actions of our Golden-crested


• Dendraeca dominica :—“In summer, the Mississippi region of the United States,

north to Lake Erie; common in South Illinois.” Mus. Cat., Vol. X. p. 303.—K.P.



