,S93.] ^coy-T on the Birds of Jamaica. 37 I 



with the nestini,^ of these birds is the deposition of the eggs in rrgidar 

 layers with leaves between. This custom I liad long heard of before an 

 opportunity offered for personal observation. In the first nest I examined , 

 the egc^swere in two distinct layers, separated by a deep bed of dry leaves; 

 the bottom layer consisted of four eggs and these, strange to say, were all 

 infertile. I believe this singular habit is practised in all cases where a 

 lar'^e number of birds resort to the same nest. The eggs are a deep bluish 

 gre°en, but when freshly laid are covered with a white chalky coat which 

 soon becomes much scratched and erased on all. Now what seems very 

 singular is that comparatively little of this chalky covering gets rubbed 

 offUie sides, where from the turning over of the eggs in the nest we should 

 expect to see the greatest extent of denudation, whereas one or both e}ids 

 are nearly always -wholly denuded. That this circumstance is not merely 

 accidental I feel sure, as in a large series of clutches that I have examined 

 more than two thirds of the number of eggs show this peculiarity. So 

 cleanly and evenly is it done, and to such an extent, that I feel confident 

 it is the work of the birds themselves, their beaks alone being able to ac- 

 complish it. Atthe same time it is easy to see that the marks and scratches 

 at the sides are the result of friction with the twigs and leaves of the nest. 

 Avera-e measurements of the eggs are 1.33 X 1.20 inches. I have found 

 e--s and young, in February and throughout the succeeding months to 

 Au°-ust two or three broods probably being reared. I have also seen 

 you°ng, 'fully fledged but unable to fly, hopping about the branches of the 

 nestin<^ tree, and on another occasion, some, more advanced, searching 

 for injects in the grass at the roots of a large guango tree in company with 

 many old birds. 



1.5. Saurothera vetula {Linn.). -The habits of this bird have been well 

 described by Gosse. I am most familiar with it as a resident of the low- 

 lands thouc-h doubtless it is well dispersed over mountain and plain. 

 At one time it occurrecL.commonly in many of the dry gullies near 

 Kin<-ston as well as in some dense and unfrequented tracts of forest 

 alon°- the base of the Long Mountain ; of late, however, I have not met 

 withlt a<-ain in these localities. This species seems to prefer the thickest 

 woods, where it can pass by short flights from tree to tree. On alighting 

 in a bush or tree, it traverses the branches with facility by a succession ot 

 vi-orousjumps, when it appears active enough. Usually, however, it 

 wiU sit on a twig in a dull and sluggish manner, scarcely if at all dis- 

 turbed by the approach or passing of people. If observed too closely, it 

 will move slowlv from branch to branch, peering down through the 

 leaves with the greatest apparent curiosity, all the while assuming very 

 odd postures in its desire to scrutinize the intruder. I can fully bear out 

 the remarks by Gosse as to the fierceness of this bird when taken in the 

 hand One that had been struck down by a stone from a catapult, and 

 only stunned, could not be held until its beak had been secured; this in- 

 dividual I kept in a cage for a few days. It appeared quite reconciled to 

 confinement, and greedily devoured lizards and roaches, snatching 



