on some Bahama Birds.



59



allowing a close approach, and, when disturbed, settle again in

the water or on the neighbouring bushes ; where it is astonishing

how well their colour harmonises with their surroundings, so

that until they move they are practically invisible. Their

flight is slow, weak, and undulating, the apparent undulation

being to a great extent caused by the wings raising the body

when they are depressed and vice-versa, so that we have a state of

things analogous to “ the tail wagging the dog.” The nest is

placed in the large clumps of mangrove about seven or

eight feet from the ground, but in the breeding season they do

not appear to be gregarious.


The eggs and nest resemble that of most Herons. I found

a nest on one occasion, however, in a somewhat curious place,

namely, in the side of an Osprey’s nest. A few of the sticks from

the larger nest had caught in one of the boughs supporting it,

and on this a Heron had built up its own nest partly with new

material and partly by abstracting materials from the side of the

other; neither nest being occupied at the time of my visit, I

cannot say whether botli nests were in use simultaneously or

not.


The Osprey or Fish Hawk (Pandion haliactus) is practi¬

cally the only bird of prey which inhabits these wastes, and they

are by no means abundant. The form found in the Bahamas

is resident and differs from the continental form in the head

being pure white instead of brown. Although a fine bird, the

flight is somewhat heavy, and, owing to its size, it appears rather

cumbrous and unwieldy in spite of its actions being similar to

those which are so pleasing in the Kestrel.


When fishing it soars round in large circles till a fish is

seen ; it then gradually narrows the circle, and finally, before

the stoop, hovers like a Tern for a few seconds till it dashes into

the water, whence it emerges, if successful, with a struggling fish,

which it takes to some quiet spot to devour.


The nest is an immense structure some four or five feet in

height and placed, so far as my experience goes, as high up in a

bush as possible, though other observers have stated to the

contrary. It is merely a shapeless accumulation of rubbish and



