20 Mr. T. M. Savage English on 



Europe, but these ducks are more wary, and when their pond 

 is approached generally make their first appearance in the 

 middle of it, having dived at the sight or sound of the 

 intruder and, if near the shore, found their way \inder water 

 to what they think is a safer place. When at rest they float 

 very much as most waterfowl do, the water-line being in 

 about its usual place, but when swimming they are almost 

 always deeply submerged, and if approaching or receding 

 from the observer, seem to have a relatively enormous 

 " beam." Of course this effect may be only due to the very 

 low elevation of the bird's back above the water. Their 

 method of diving is interesting. It has the appearance of 

 being done without the movement of a muscle, just as if the 

 bird were a leaking vessel which was going down on an even 

 keel. This downward progress is often interrupted, when 

 just the head, the neck, and the upper part of the upstanding 

 tail are showing above the surface, or a little later, when 

 only the head and part of the neck, which is habitually 

 kept stiffly upright (as is the tail), are visible. In either of 

 these positions the bird seems able to rest as well as to swim 

 at some speed. 



Nomonyx dominicus has at least two calls, one of them 

 j^ery like the clucking of a hen to her chickens, and the other 

 more reminiscent of a short note from a motor-horn. 



Dendrocycna arborea is by no means uncommon, and breeds 

 in various parts of the south and south-west of Grand 

 Cayman, but apparently not in the north, though it occurs 

 there not infrequently. Its nest and eggs are described as 

 being " exactly like a hen's," the nest, such as it is, 

 being made mostly of grass and similar material and 

 apparently not lined with down. It seems to be as a rule 

 well hidden in some dry place among bushes. The ducklings 

 in colour and general appearace are very like those of the 

 darker type of the domestic duck. 



This bird is readily tamed. Shortly before leaving the 

 island, the writer tried to give ther liberty to two which 

 had been brought up from the duckling stage, but after 

 havinu; been at large for several Aveeks thev flew back to 



