I 26 Scott on the Birds of yamaica. [April 



I quote from Mr. Taylor's notes as follows : " It has been asserted that 

 the John Crow Vulture has suffered severely from the ravages of the 

 mongoose, but in Kingston, at least, I have noticed no apparent dim- 

 inution in their numbers. In and around Kingston hundreds roost all 

 the vear round, and certain favored trees have been resorted to for many 

 vears. As their numbers do not appear sensibly diminished, even during 

 those months in which they apparently breed, I have considered that a 

 very large proportion of the birds frequenting the roost at this time must 

 be of the male sex. With respect to the oft-disputed point, sight vs. 

 smell, in the Turkey Vulture, I wish to record one or two cases, coming 

 under my own notice, which seem to me to prove incontestably the use of 

 both senses, as circumstance may require. The dead bodies of poultry, 

 cats, dogs, i-ats, etc., so frequent in the streets and lanes of the city, are as 

 often as not passed over b^' the ' Crows' until decomposition has begun. 

 If, however, the object is white or light-colored, it is quickly found. 1 

 once saw a good instance of this when shooting among the lagoons at the 

 Palisades. In sailing down a narrow channel the boat grounded on a 

 mud bank midway between the shores. A White Heron that had 

 been fishing near the lee shore was shot while we were still aground. 

 The bird had been wading deeply, and fell struggling on the water some 

 little distance from the land, towards which it was drifted slowly by the 

 wind and waves. A Crow almost immediately afterwards came in sight, 

 and after flying round once or twice, alighted on the beach. Soon be- 

 coming impatient, the Vulture waded out into the shallow water, and 

 seizing the Heron, dragged it ashore and into the bushes to devour it. 

 Other cases have occurred where the carcases of animals have remained 

 untouched until thoroughly decomposed, and this nearly always happens 

 where the bodies are not wholly exposed. The Crow is certainly not a 

 carrion eater from choice, fresh meat being eagerly taken whenever an 

 opportunitv offers, and when sore pressed young and weakly chickens, 

 etc., are taken up." 



111. Catharista atrata {Bartr.). Black Vulture. — Recorded from 

 Jamaica by March (Pr. Acad. Nat. Sci. PhiUi. 1S63, p. 151). 



112. Elanoides forficatus (Z/««.). Swallow-tailed Kite. — Recorded 

 from Jamaica by Gosse (Birds of Jamaica, p. 19). 



Mr. Taylor sends me this note : "There is a specimen (in a very man- 

 gled state) of the Mississippi Kite among the collection of skins in the 

 Museum of the Jamaica Institute, but without any label to show when or 

 where it was obtained." 



113. Buteo borealis {Gmel.). Red-tailed Hawk. — Common through- 

 out the island. Breeds. Seen almost daily at Priestman's River, and fre- 

 quently in the immediate vicinity of Kingston. 



Mr. Taylor's notes are as follows : "The Red-tailed Buzzard appears to 

 be common all over the island, a pair or more may always be seen hover- 

 ing near pastures and commons and along the slopes of the lesser hills. 

 I know nothing of the nest, but a friend to whom I am indebted for sev- 

 eral notes, writes : 'They build chiefly on the huge silk cottorj trees, and 

 only rarely on bushes or trees of small elevation.' " 



