78 Northrop oh the Birds oj Aiidros Island. [January 



shot at Stafford Creek May 5. No more were seen, which seems curious, 

 as Dr. Bryant regarded this as the most common species of Heron ;* 

 and Cory states that it was abundant during the winter, but no adults 

 were tai<en by hiin.f My remarks, however, apply only to Andros, and 

 the bird might be common in other localities. 



62. Ardea bahamensis Brezuster. Bahama Green Heron. — Locally 

 known by the expressive name of 'Poor Joe.' We found it quite abun- 

 dant in the creeks and swashes, and at Fresh Creek collected what is 

 very piol)ably the young of this species, hitheito undescribed. The top 

 of the head is clove brown with a slightly greenish gloss, streaked with 

 cinnamon rufous. The rest of the head, front of the neck, and the breast, 

 are white striped and mottled with sepia and bistre. The back and the 

 remainder of the neck are olive, having the feathers edged with cinna- 

 mon rufous. The tail is similar to the adult. Lower parts are gray, the 

 feathers being edged with white; and the scapulars and wings are clove 

 brown, the coverts having an elliptical mark of wood brown and being 

 edged with cinnamon rufous; the rest of the wing leathers having a del- 

 toid mark of white at the end. Tlie bill is ochre yellow, darker above, 

 and shading into black near the end of the upper mandible. Legs olive. 



*62. Nycticorax nycticorax naevius (Bodd.). 'Golden.' — The Black- 

 crowned Night Heron is new to the Bahamas, and is said by the people to 

 be abundant, although we did not see very many individuals. Two were 

 secured at Conch Sound, March 30. 



* 64. Nycticorax violaceus iyLinn.\. Yellow-crowned Night 

 Heron. — About as abundant as the last species. Both the above species 

 of Nycticorax are locally known as 'Goldens,' pronounced '■gaulings.^ 



65. Phcenicopterus ruber Linn. — A few Flamingoes were seen on the 

 western coast of Andros in Apiil ; but later, in June, when the breeding 

 season had commenced, we found them veiy abundant. A pair were 

 shot on June iS, and they were then ready to lay. We were told that one 

 of their breeding places was near Big Cabbage Creek, and a day was 

 spent in an unsuccessful attempt to find their nests. They were described 

 to us, however, by reliable people, who also stated that the birds sat upon 

 their nests 'like any other bird,' and not with their legs hanging down on 

 either side. The birds are exceedingly shy, and in the open swashes it is 

 difficult to get within shot; for while stealing warily toward them, you 

 are very apt to hear a warning ^ffoug, gong,' and off" flies the entire flock, 

 a streak of flame against the sky. The Flamingoes, when feeding, push 

 their head into the mud under water; and this fact is taken advantage of 

 to secure them. While the head is under water the negro walks rapidly 

 forward, taking about ten steps and then stopping. By that time the 

 bird will probably lift its head and look around. The negro stands 

 motionless and screens his face with a branch of a tree until the Flamingo, 

 apparently satisfied that the new object is inanimate, quietly resumes his 



* Proc. P,ost. Soc. Nat. Hist., VH, p. 120. 

 t Birds of the Bahamas, p. 171. 



