BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. I05 



issuing from its hiding-places when night has set in; then, and not 

 until then, does it go in quest of its food, which consists mainly of 

 insects. It has a peculiar cry, resembling the syllables, " chuck- 

 wills-widow," from which it has received its name. It is probable 

 that some birds remain in the Bahamas throughout the year, as they 

 are merely summer migrants to the United States. 



While at Ina^ua, I was constantly told of a strano^e and frifjht- 

 ful bird, that occasionally was to be seen in the town. The negroes 

 stated that it never appeared until night, and that wherever it was 

 seen, a person in that vicinity would suddenly die, within a short 

 time of its appearance. A vessel was anchored near us at the 

 time, whose crew were dying of yellow fever. The mate had died 

 on shore a few days before, and the captain was then very ill. The 

 negroes cheerfully announced that before the mate's death, and since 

 that time, a Death Bird had been seen every night in that \-icin- 

 ity. My curiosity being aroused, I procured a negro guide, and 

 arming myself with a light shot-gun, started for the spot where the 

 Death Bird had last been seen. It was a beautiful night with 

 a full moon, and I had great hopes of procuring a specimen, if we 

 were lucky enough to see one. On the way my guide entertained 

 me with accounts of the doings of this interesting species. He 

 stated that a few months before, the bird had appeared to an old 

 man, whose death occurred a few days afterwards; also, that if we 

 saw it, a death would take place shortly after. I hastened to assure 

 him that the last statement was undoubtedly true, and that if we 

 saw a Death Bird something would die shortly after, but in all 

 14 



