344 ^^•E.-L-LS, Birds of the Islafid of CayriacoH. \o^^ 



all round the island though it is seldom seen on the highest hills; it is a 

 ground pigeon, feeding on ' pigeon peas ' and fallen berries and seeds, 

 though it maj also be found eating the gomier and acoumar fruit. Thev 

 are excellent for the table, and consequently large numbers are shot ; 

 the peasants catch scores in traps and snares and thej are taken to 

 Grenada for sale. They nest on the cliffs near the sea and also on the 

 small islands; the nest is only a few dry sticks, generally placed in a sea- 

 side grape tree. I have found some of their eggs laid in a tuft of grass 

 on the ground. The eggs are white, and two in number. 



49. Zenaida rubripes Lawr. Trixidad Ground Dove ; Mountain 

 Dove. — This beautiful little dove occurs in numbers. Unlike the other 

 members of the dove family, it is found in flocks of 6 to 15. It feeds on 

 the seeds of grasses and shrubs, and when flushed from its feeding 

 grounds generally flies a short distance and alights in a tree. I have 

 counted as many as thirty-three perched together on an accacia tree. Har- 

 vey Vale and Beausejour pastures are favorite resorts of these birds. 

 They are very swift on the wing, and it needs a quick eye to shoot many 

 of them, and owing to their close plumage they ' carry away ' a deal of shot. 

 I have known one of these birds to drop nearly half a mile off after being 

 hit. The eggs are two, pure white; the nest is placed in the accacia 

 bushes and on the islets. 



50. Columbigallina passerina {Linn). Ground Dove; ' Ortolan.' — 

 This pretty little dove is very abundant all over the island, the pastures 

 and seed bearing grasses and shrubs being conducive to its welfare. They 

 are fond of newly cleared land, and may be found in pairs on the roads, 

 especially after they have been repaired. 



The nest is a rude structure of dried stalks and grass, generallv found 

 in a short stump or low shrub, in which are laid two pure white eggs, 

 measuring .85 X -60. 



51. Falco columbarius Li7in. Pigeon Hawk. — This is a migrant, and 

 arrives about the same time as the different species of Scolopacidie, on 

 which they prey. 



52. Pandion halia'etus carolinensis (Gmel.). Osprey ; Fish Hawk. — 

 A migrant which visits the island regularly every year; it is generally 

 seen in August and remains until February and March. It frequents the 

 bays around the coast ; seldom more than one is seen at a time. 



53. Coccyzus americanus (Z/««.). American Cuckoo. — This bird is 

 new to our avifauna; I never saw it or heard of its being seen until the 

 year 1896, when I saw a pair in Grand Anse pasture, the male of which I 

 shot. Since then I have seen them every year, about October and 

 November ; it is a migrant. 



54. Coccyzus minor (Gmel.). Cuckoo Manioc; Rain-bird. — A lazy 

 and foolish looking bird, it creeps along the branches of a tree, and will 

 take a short flight if alarmed. It feeds on crickets and other insects. Its 

 note is a harsh grating sound which the peasants say is its "calling for 

 rain." The nest is difficult to find, being usually placed in a tree covered 

 with liannes. The eggs are pale green. 



