NIDIFICATIOTT. 79 



feet distant ; at length she left the place, and 

 I left also. On the 8th of April I visited the 

 cave again, and found the nest perfected, and 

 containing two eggs, which were not hatched on 

 the 1st of May." 



Another nest of the same species was seen by 

 Mr. G-osse, stuck on the twig of a sea-side grape 

 (Coccoloba) about fifteen feet above the ground, 

 almost above the sea, for as the tree grew at the 

 very edge of the shore, the branches stretched 

 out over the water. This nest contained two 

 newly-hatched young, and endeavours were 

 made to secure them, together with the parent, 

 by means of an insect net; but all attempts 

 proved futile, for the female was alarmed and 

 wary. On proceeding the next day to the nest 

 with the same object in view, the nest was found 

 to be quite empty, no trace of the unfledged 

 young being left. " It is probable that the bird, 

 annoyed at being watched, had removed them 

 on her back, a thing not without precedent." 



It would appear that under similar circum- 

 stances the eggs also are removed, not, however, 

 without risk, as the following incident will 

 show : 



" In June I found a nest of the same species 

 on a shrub or young tree in the Cottawood. It 

 contained one egg. I looked at it and went a 

 little way farther. In a few minutes I returned ; 

 the bird was sitting, the head and tail oddly pro- 

 jecting from the nest, as usual. I hoped to ap- 



