1C2 Riley, Birds of Bahama Islands. Yq^x 



io. Butorides virescens bahamensis (Brewster). Bahama Heron. — 

 This light colored, well-marked form of the Green Heron was found in 

 small numbers on New Providence, Andros, Eleuthera, Rum Cay, Wat- 

 lings Island, and Long Island. 



ii. Nyctanassa violacea (Linn.). Yellow-crowned Night Heron. — 

 This was a very common heron on Grassy Creek, Andros. A nest con- 

 structed loosely of sticks was built about eighteen inches above the 

 ground in a bush on Grassy Creek. It was about two feet in diameter 

 and contained two young nearly ready to fly and another young was found 

 on the ground that had evidently left the nest, June 29. Some birds shot 

 from a cliff on Eleuthera had the bills coated apparently with carrion. It 

 was also seen on Watlings and Long Islands. 



12. Pcecilonetta bahamensis (Linn.). Bahama Duck. — Three ducks, 

 apparently of this species, were seen on Grassy Creek, Andros. One was 

 shot and several others seen on Long Island, Jul}' 17. The specimen shot 

 was a female and refused to fly, indicating that she had a nest in the near 

 vicinity, but though we searched for a long while, our efforts were futile. 

 Upper mandible bluish slate, with an ochraceous yellow blotch on each 

 side near the base, in life. 



13. Colinus virginianus bahamensis (Maynard). Bahama Bob-white. 

 — Though often heard and seen on two or three occasions crossing the 

 roads on New Providence, we did not succeed in securing any specimens. 

 We found it impossible to make them rise in the thick brush. They are 

 said to have been introduced by one of the early plantation owners, which 

 would seem to invalidate the claims of bahamensis to recognition. 



14. Rallus crepitans coryi (Maynard). Bahama Clapper Rail. — 

 One was shot by Mr. Derickson on New Providence, June 24. A Clapper 

 Rail was heard on Grassy Creek, Andros, and another on Eleuthera. 

 These rails keep to the mangroves and it is impossible to flush them. 

 The one taken was only shot after an hour or two's work by both of us, 

 and then only after we had kept still for a time. They skulk under the 

 roots and only those who have been in a mangrove swamp can appreciate 

 the difficulty of trying to make them rise; occasional glimpses can some- 

 times be obtained as they glide from clump to clump. They are noisy 

 and make their presence known, however. 



The specimen taken, when compared, with the forms of Clapper Rail 

 inhabiting the West Indies, is much lighter in color, but from true crepi- 

 tans of the northeastern United States it is hardly different, being only 

 slightlv lighter in color with an apparently shorter and slenderer bill. 



15. Larus atricilla Linn. Laughing Gull. — Laughing Gulls were 

 seen in small numbers at New Providence, Andros, Eleuthera, Rum Cay, 

 Watlings, and Long Islands. 



16. Gelochelidon nilotica (Linn.). Gull-billed Tern. — Two or three 

 were seen hawking over a clearing on Eleuthera; about a dozen were 

 found frequenting a small inland lake on Rum Cay ; and they were not 

 uncommon around the old salt pans on Long Island. 



