iSgi.l NoUTIIUor ,>// tin- niids of Audros hlmiiL ^\ 



ami tlic pines. The males varv imuh in color, some heini^ a brilliant 

 black, while others are only dusky; this dillerence is more apparent in 

 living than in dead specimens. Uoth sexes also varj in size. Some of 

 these birds wore brought to us alive by the negro children, and I soon 

 learned by experience that they not only were pugnacious but could in- 

 flict quite a painful bite with their strong beaks. The generative organs 

 of a male collected May 30 were considerably enlarged. 



26. Euetheia bicolor {Li/iu.). GRAssqjJiT.— Very common both in 

 the pine-yard and in the coppet, and the most abundant species of land 

 bird on the island. Tiiey were very tame and allowed one to approach 

 within a few feet, and while we were at Nicol's Town, several of them Hew 

 through the house at various times. They seemed to vary a great deal, 

 some of the males having the head and breast black, while others were 

 much lighter with only the throat and chin black, more like the average 

 female; in these the under mandible were also much lighter. They 

 seemed to have mated even in April, as they were usually seen hopping 

 about in pairs. 



27. Icterus northropi Allc/i. Nortiirop's (3riole. — (See Pi. I.) 

 Description and notes of this bird were published in the last number of 

 this periodical (Vol. VII, p. 343). 



28. Agelaius phceniceus bryanti Ridgtv. Bahaman REDVviNcnLn 

 Blackbird. — This bird was found generally distributed over the island, 

 and was the presiding genius of its creeks and swashes. On the west coast 

 especially his flute-like 'oknilee' was the most familiar note. The biids 

 were usually in small flocks, but there always seemed to be a great prepon- 

 derance of males. Beyond doubt, however, the latter knew that their plain- 

 ly dressed mates were near, much oftener than we, for a number of times 

 we saw one half raise his wings so as to expose his brilliant epaulets, and 

 sing with all his heart, fluttering his wings at every note. On two occa- 

 sions while visiting a large mangrove near Mastic Point, we remained 

 until after sunset and watched the Redwings fly out to roost there. The 

 mangrove, about two miles from shore, was very large, and accommo- 

 dated hundreds of feathered guests nightly. There were .Man-o'-war 

 Birds, White-headed Pigeons, and Louisiana Herons, but the most 

 numerous as well as the noisiest lodgers were the Redwinged Blackbirds. 

 They began to arrive about five o'clock, flying in from the mainland b> 

 twos and threes, or sometimes singly, until at last the portion of the 

 mangrove that they occupied was seemingly alive witii them. There 

 must have been several hundred, males, females and young, and the\- 

 kept up a constant chorus of hoarse chirps, screams and gurgling '■okiuj- 

 lecs until quite a while after the sun had set. 



29. Pitangus bahamensis ^ru^w/. Bahama Kingbird. 'Fighter.' — 

 Not uncommon in many parts of the island. I have nothing to add to 

 Dr. Bryant's account of its habits,* except that in the stomach of one 

 some fruits of the gum elemi were found, showing that its diet was not 

 entirely insectivorous. 



* Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. VII, p. 108. 



