34^ Wells, Birds of the Island of Carriacou. Foct 



winged insects which swarm about the rain-pools and swamps. It inflicts 

 punishment on the sandpipers and other small birds, attacking them with 

 its strong bill and opening and shutting its tail feathers like a pair of 

 shears. Like most of the family of Flycatchers, this bird has on its head 

 a crest of bright crimson and yellow feathers which is concealed except 

 when excited or in chase of its prey. 



60. Tyrannus rostratus (Scl.). Pippiree. — This bold and dashing 

 bird may often be seen perched at the top of some dry tree on the lookout 

 for flying ants and other insects on which it feeds. It darts out on its 

 prey in the air, turning and twisting about with ease, and the snapping of 

 its strong bill can be heard as it closes over the capture. It also frequents 

 the ponds and pools, where, skimming along the surface, it captures 

 dragon-flies, etc. They show^ great courage in defending their nests and 

 will peck at the eyes and hands of anyone climbing the tree on which the 

 nest is situated ; dogs passing near the tree are vigorously attacked, and 

 pigs seem to be most obnoxious to them. In the early morning its shrill 

 note is heard, fij>-^i-ree, repeated often in quick succession. 



It nests generally in the white cedar trees and also on the hog plum ; 

 the nest is loosely formed of dry tendrils and midribs of leaves ; there is 

 no soft lining for the eggs, though the shallow- cup in the centre is 

 usually of finer material. The eggs are three, reddish buff handsomely 

 marked with spots and blotches of red-brown and dark gray ; they 

 measure 1.15 X .75. 



61. Myiarchus oberi Latvr. Pippiree-gros-tete. — This bird is not 

 abundant. It has a foolish appearance, and will remain perched on a twig 

 for several minutes muttering its call note fleei, pleeL It nests in holes 

 in trees, the nest being usually composed of horse hair, bits of rag, rotten 

 wood, etc. The eggs are three and sometimes four in number, of a light 

 buff color thickly scribbled over and blotched with brownish purple ; they 

 measure .96 X •7o. 



62. Elainea martinica {Linn.). Top-knot Pippiree. — This is an 

 active and lively little bird; its note may be heard from five o'clock in the 

 morning and seems to say Ladies-Ladies-Ladies-your-lazy. It is quick 

 in its movements when darting after insects on the wing or flitting from 

 branch to branch. 



It builds a beautiful little nest, usually in the fork of a branch, and 

 sometimes ' saddled ' on a large limb, in shape like a shallow cup about 3 

 inches in diameter and i inch deep. It is composed outwardly of skeleton 

 leaves interwoven with cobwebs and cotton wool; it is lined with fine 

 tendrils and feathers. It lays two eggs, pale buff with a pink tinge and a 

 circle of brown and purple spots round the blunt end ; they measure .So 

 X .64. 



63. Quiscalus luminosus Lmvr. Black Bird; Merle. — Numerous 

 all over the island, this bird does good service among the sheep and oxen 

 by picking off the ticks that infest them ; but they are detested by the 

 peasants for robbing the cornfield. They will dig up the grains of maize 



