244 Wells, Birds of the Island of Carriacou. Ljuly 



The young are pure white, and attain full size before the change of 

 plumage takes place; then they may be observed in all stages of the 

 transition, from a few blue feathers to a few Avhite, until the pure blue 

 slate of the adult is reached. 



21. Ardea virescens Z/««. Hyallek ; Little Crabier. — Numerous 

 about the swamps. It is a prettily marked bird, and the deep orange 

 color of the legs makes it conspicuous as it takes wing on being flushed. 



Nest, a few dry sticks, in which are laid two blue-green eggs, measuring 

 1.42 X i.io to 1.32 X 1.02. 



22. Nycticorax violaceus [Linn.). Crabier; Night Heron. — This 

 bird is numerous in Carriacou ; bold and fearless, he is found all round 

 the coast, and at night its loud quok is rather startling to the timid 

 traveler. 



It nests in the mangroves, laying three blue-green eggs, measuring 

 2.10 X 1.48 to 2.12 X 1.50. 



23. Porzana Carolina {Linn.). Sora Rail. — This bird is a migrant, 

 but a straggler or two may remain during the year. It is a lively little 

 bird, generally found on the borders of the ponds and rain pools ; its 

 habit of flicking up its tail attracts attention to it. 



24. lonornis martinica {Linn.). Purple Gallinule; Hascamiol. — 

 Very numerous at Isle-de-large and Saline Island; a few seen about the 

 ponds at Carriacou. They are caught in fish-pots baited with corn, and 

 also by dogs. They are smartly colored birds, their purple, green and 

 brown plumage, red bill and bright yellow legs, making them conspicuous. 

 They do damage to the Indian corn, as they climb up the stalks and eat 

 the ears ; they also climb and eat plantains and bananas. 



25. Gallinula galeata {LicJit.). Red-head Waterfowl. — The large 

 e.Ktent of mangrove swamps in Carriacou, the natural home of this bird, 

 makes it very abundant ; its note may be heard from morn to eve as one 

 rides along the road between Lauriston and Hillsborough. On entering 

 the swamp numbers may be seen, some with a brood of six or eight chicks 

 swimming behind her ; they all make for cover amongst the roots of the 

 mangroves at the least alarm. 



The bright red frontal shield of this bird, and the white feathers under 

 the tail, which it keeps flicking up whilst it swims, are conspicuous. 

 The eggs, from 4 to 6 in number, are light buff splashed with brown. 



26. Fulica americana Gmel. Coot ; White-head Water-fowl. — 

 This bird is excessively shy, and will dive on the least alarm, and continue 

 diving until security is reached in the rushes or roots on the borders of 

 the swamps, which are its home. I have seen as many as fifty of these 

 birds in Lauriston swamp during the dry season, when only a small 

 quantity of water remains in the deepest pool ; here they congregate and 

 may be shot in numbers, by creeping to the borders before sunrise. As 

 a rule they dive at the report of the gun, but many will skim along the 

 surface of the water leaving a wake behind, and occasionally one will rise, 

 on the wing. They build a thick nest of water weeds, the bottom often 

 resting on the water; the eggs number from six to eight. 



