^°^- ^^^"1 y^^iA.^^ Birds of the Islarid of Carriacon. 345 



55. Crotophaga ani Linn. Corbeau ; Tick Bird. — Not numerous 

 in Carriacou ; small flocks may be met with in the pastures where cattle 

 are feeding, and thej are often seen in the grass bj the roadside hunting 

 for crickets, their keel-shaped bill being admirably adapted to separat- 

 ing the blades of grass and starting the crickets which are then pounced 

 upon. 



The nesting habits of this bird are peculiar. I have not been able to 

 determine how many eggs are laid by each bird, as they use one large 

 nest in common. A flat nest is first built and about 6 or 7 eggs laid in 

 it ; then these are covered over and more eggs laid, and so on until four 

 or five layers of nests have been constructed one over the other. I have 

 seen four of these birds sitting on the nest together. When the top layer 

 of eggs is hatched, and the young fledged, it is scraped off and incubation 

 goes on with each succeeding layer, until all the eggs are hatched. The 

 eggs are of a light green when newly laid, but they soon become coated 

 with a chalky substance, which gets stained and scratched, giving them a 

 dirty appearance. They measure 1.28 X 1.04. 



56. Ceryle alcyon {Linn.). Belted Kingfisher. — This interesting 

 migrant visits the island about August, and may be found in pairs fre- 

 quenting the manchineel trees along the shore. They generally perch 

 on a twig overhanging the sea, from which they plunge and take their 

 finny prey. When flying from one tree to another, or when alarmed, they 

 utter a prolonged churr. 



57. Eulampis holosericeus {Linn.). Green Hummingbird. — Not 

 numerous; generally seen in pairs. Its nest, usually 'saddled' on a 

 large tree limb, is a beautiful and compact structure. The two eggs are 

 pure white. 



58. Bellona cristata {Li7in.). Crested Hummingbird; Colibri.— 

 This diminutive bird is one of the most pugnacious known here; it will 

 attack any bird that approaches its nest. I have seen it drive off a hawk 

 by perching on its head and pecking at its eyes. They have manj- battles 

 with each other, especially when several of them congregate over a tree 

 covered with blossoms. At such times their motions are so quick that the 

 eye can hardlj' follow them, but the whirring of the wings and clashing 

 of the beaks tell the fury of the combat. The nest is usually built on the 

 drooping branches of the tamarind tree, or on roots under the banks of 

 the road. In the Parish Church in Hillsborough a pair of these birds 

 have built their nest on the rope suspending a chandelier and reared 

 their young for several years. I have also seen a nest built on a long 

 nail in the wall of a house in Hillsborough. The nests are beautiful 

 little structures, sometimes constructed of flne mosses, but those built of 

 cotton wool and covered outside with spiders' web and fine bark are 

 exquisite. They lay two diminutive white eggs. 



59. Milvulus tyrannus {Linn.). Scissortail ; Fork-tail Fly- 

 catcher. — This is a migrant, arriving in August in considerable num- 

 bers. It frequents the pastures near the seashore, and preys upon the 



