BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 77 



it extracts from the flowers. The stomachs of several specimens 

 which I examined contained nothing but insects. 



Regarding the food of this bird, Dr. Bryant states, " On my arrival 

 at Nassau the leaf of life ( Vcrca crcnata) was in full bloom, and these 

 birds seemed to derive their whole subsistence from the insects 

 found in the flowers. These it did not procure by inserting its bill 

 into the flower, but by thrusting it through the petals. After the 

 flowers had disappeared, I saw them in large numbers about the 

 sour oranges, devouring the juice and puljo of the fruit, and also 

 the small insects attracted there." 



Mr. N. B. Moore states, " There is much delicious nectar within 

 the flower of this plant ( Verca CTcnata), of which the Ccrtlnola is very 

 fond, and which it has learned to obtain by thrusting its bill through 

 the petals. I have spent much time in examining these flowers, 

 and never, but in one instance, and that of a malformed one, did I 

 find an insect in the nectary until it had been penetrated by the bill 

 of the bird. After an opening had been made by him, very small 

 black ants and very small winged insects may be found therein." 



The period of incubation commences during the latter part 

 of March, 



