'8o2.J Scott on the Birds of yamaica. 127 



114. Urubitinga anthracina {Lichf.). Mexican Black Hawk. — Re- 

 corded by Mr. Hill from Jamaica (see Gosse, Birds of Jamaica, p. 19). 



115. Falco peregrinus anatum {Bofiap.). Duck Hawk. — Not met with. 

 Mr. Taylor says: "I have not met with this Hawk on the mainland, 

 but at the Morant Cays a pair or two were resident. One bird regularly 

 roosted on the tallest cocoanut palm on Southeast Cay. I have an egg 

 in my possession that I can ascribe to no other bird; it was taken from 

 among a number of eggs of the Noddy and Sooty Terns offered for sale 

 in Kingston; whether it was brought from the Morant or Pedro Cays I 

 cannot determine with certainty." 



116. Falco columbarius /,/««. Pigeon Hawk. — Taken at Priestman's 

 River on January 13 and 19. Both birds were females and these were the 

 only ones obtained. From Mr. Taylor's notes I quote: "A not infre- 

 quent bird in the lowlands where it preys upon the Doves and smaller 

 birds as well as lizards and such 'small deer.' Its flight is very swift and 

 darting, but I have never seen it soar and circle like the Red-tailed Hawk. 

 It is resident and breeds, but I have not seen the nest." 



117. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis {Gtnel.). American Osprey. — 

 Noted at various points along the seashore in driving from Priestman's 

 River to Kingston. Mr. Taylor regards it as a rather rare species and 

 says further: "One bird seen near Port Henderson, and at the Morant 

 Cays a pair were seen daily." 



iiS. Strix flammea furcata (7e;«;«.). Screech Owl. White Patoo. — 

 The Barn Owl was quite abundant in the vicinity of Priestman's River 

 and in fact anywhere along the coast where there are meadows or fallow 

 fields of much area. On moonlight nights I have seen the birds many 

 times sitting along the road on telegraph poles or on some dead limb. 

 They seem at such times quite fearless, and allow one to walk or ride 

 close by without any attempt at flight. I am unable to be sure of their 

 time of breeding, but think it is probably in October and November. 



Subjoined are Mr. Taylor's notes. "The 'Screech Owl' is common 

 wherever it can find suitable shelter. The small caverns and sink holes 

 that are of such frequent occurrence in the limestone formation, as well 

 as the forests of the mountain slopes, are favored haunts. For some 

 time a pair of Owls resorted to the steeple of St. Michael's Chuich at 

 Rae Town, and are probably there still. 



"They often select strange localities for breeding. A pair tenanted for 

 years the partially submerged hull of an old barque that lay at no great 

 distance from the shore of the Palisades, and in the forepart of which 

 they successfully reared their young. Lately I have been told of another 

 pair that nested regularly in the recesses of the iron work under the 

 large bridge crossing the dry river at May Pen in Clarendon and over 

 which trains pass daily." 



119. Pseudoscops grammicus (Gosse). Dusky Eared Owl. Brown 

 Patoo. Patoo. — Not quite so common as the last, but still not at all 

 rare in the vicinity of Priestman's River. It frequents the forests more 

 than the Barn Owl does, and I did not meet with it hunting over the 



