54



Mr. J. L. Bonhote,



larger end. Dr. Adams says that it frequents rice fields, or the

sides of mountain streams, and that it is shy and timid.”


The above account indicates some features in common

with Starlings : the voice is harsh and abrupt, not strikingly

resembling that of Sturnvs vulgaris to my ear, rather one might

say it resembles the scolding note of the Crested Mynah,—a

sound most irritating to me from its parrot-like raspiness. As

for the flight, I had no opportunity to observe it in a cage, but

that of Sturnus vulgaris , which always reminds me of that

unambitious rhyme “Twinkle, twinkle, little star”: etc., is so

distinctive, that it would be difficult to suppose that Mr Hutton

could have erred respecting it.


The colouring of the eggs seems to separate Psaroglossa

from the typical Starlings; and I should judge (from their

marked character) that although this bird may nest in holes in

trees, they must be very shallow holes; and not such as Sturnus

V7ilgaris selects for its unmarked eggs.


Take it all round, I think there is, at present, very little

evidence for the Sturnine affinities of Psaroglossa ; but I suppose

dissection will throw a clearer light upon this question.


So far as I have been able to ascertain, the Spotted-wing

has never found its way to our Zoological Gardens; and Dr.

Russ does not mention it in his latest work on soft-food cage-

birds.



FIELD NOTES ON SOME BAHAMA BIRDS.


By J. Lewis Bonhote, M.A.


Part III.


The next type of country into which I would ask the reader

to follow me is one which is frequently met with in these islands,

viz., the swamps and lagoons, where may be found many of the

most beautiful and interesting species of birds. The countr)'' is

somewhat peculiar, so I may perhaps be excused if I dilate a

little upon it before treating of its inhabitants. The Bahamas,

as we noticed before, are essentially different in their formation

from the other West Indian Islands, being formed, according to



