^"^'go^^] Wells, Birds of the Island of Car riacou. 243 



They nest in colonies at Kick-en-jenny. They build a large platform 

 of sticks on the figeur trees, and lay but one egg. 



14. Anas boschas /,/««. Mallard. — A rare migrant that visits the 

 island occasional!}- ; I have shot one at Lauristan swamp, the onlj' one 

 seen. 



15. Nettion carolinensis (Gmel.). Greex-winged Teal. — Numbers 

 of these ducks arrive here in October and frequent the swamps and ponds; 

 some of them remain till March when they become quite fat and are excel- 

 lent for the table. They afford fine sport; I have shot numbers of them 

 at Lauriston Pond, from January to March. A straggler or two may 

 remain, but they generally leave before the middle of April. 



16. Querquedula discors (Linn.). Blue-wixged Teal ; Cercelle. — 

 This little duck arrives in September and October, and flocks of 10 to 20 

 may be seen in the mangrove swamps ; they also frequent the rain pools 

 in the pastures and some of the ponds ; they afford good sport and are in 

 fine condition in the months of February and March. A few of them 

 remain all the year, but I ha\e no authentic account of their breeding 

 here, though they do breed at Isle-de-Rhoude. 



17. Erismatura jamaicensis [Gtnel.). Ruddy Duck ; Red Diver. — 

 This duck is a resident, and breeds in Lauriston Pond. I have taken their 

 eggs in January. The bright blue bill and chestnut plumage of the male 

 bird make it conspicuous. They are very difficult to shoot, as at the 

 least motion of the sportsman they will disappear under water, just sink- 

 ing down as they sit, not diving like other ducks ; they remain down a 

 long while and will come to the surface a long way oft', quietly appearing 

 to rise up in the same manner as they sunk out of sight ; and they will 

 sink again immediately if they see anything suspicious. The female is of 

 a sober mottled brown color. 



18. Ardea herodias Linn. Large Heron; Crabier montaigne. 

 — This bird is not a resident ; seldom more than one is seen at a time, 

 though in October, 1896, after heavy rains and strong south winds, I saw 

 eight of them in Harvey Vale pasture, which was then covered with water. 

 They appeared to be young birds and to have alighted here owing to the 

 stormy weather, as they had disappeared on the ne.\t dav when the 

 ■weather was clear. I shot a fine specimen at Frigate Island in Mav. 



19. Ardea candidissima Gmel. White Gaulix. — This bird is not 

 common in Carriacou. I have observed but a few of them, and have not, 

 of course, succeeded in procuring their eggs. 



'White' Gaulins are numerous at certain seasons, but thev are the 

 young of the Blue Gaulin. 



20. Ardea caerulea Linn. Blue Gaulix. — A common bird wherever 

 swamps or rain pools occur. They nest on the small islets ; several 

 nests are occasionally placed on the same tree. The nest is only a plat- 

 form of dry sticks, through which the eggs can be seen from below. 

 Their eggs are two and sometimes three or four in number, of a beauti- 

 ful bluish green, and measure 1.66 X 1-32. 



