35^ CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 



Latham, who gives the size as that of a wren, " length three inches 

 and eight lines;" he cites Buffon and Brisson. It is " L'Hiron- 

 delle noire acutipenne de la Martinique " of Buffon, PI. Enl., No. 

 544. He describes it as being very small, the size of a wren, the 

 length 3 inches and 8 lines ; the whole upper part of the body with- 

 out exception black, etc., the wings extending beyond the tail eight 

 lines. Boddaert refers this to H. pelasgia, Linn., but they do not 

 agree in size or color. 



8. Dcndrceca -petechia, var. mclanoptera. 

 [Guadeloupe Catalogue, p. 453.] 



9. >uiscalus Guadeloupensis. 

 [Guadeloupe Catalogue, p. 457.] 



New Species of Owl, from Antigua. 

 10. Spcotyto amaura. 



" Owl. Length, c? > &i in. ; alar extent, i\\ ; wing, 6f. 



" Length, ? , 8 in. ; alar extent, 2i ; wing, 6\. 



" Iris bright yellow. Called here, 'coo coo,' from its hoot at night. 

 I considered it for a time as almost mythical, reports concerning its 

 existence were so conflicting. Some described it as a large Bat, 

 others asserted that it was (judging from the size of its eyes) as large 

 as a 'Guinea Bird' ; all agreed that it was a night-bird, that it lived 

 in old drains, holes in the cliffs, and ruined walls : and that its hoot 

 would strike terror to the stoutest heart. 



" Like its congener of Dominica, it has a bad name ; and though 

 it may not be called here, as in Dominica, the ' Jumbie Bird,' or bird 

 of evil spirits, the name implies more than that, still it has the 

 reputation of being a bad character. The blacks declare that it will 

 not hesitate to tear the eyes out of any individual unfortunate enough 

 to meet it at night. 'Me rudder see de debbil, any time,' is their 

 forcible way of testifying to the powers, supernatural and otherwise, 

 possessed by this poor owl. Finding it impossible to shoot one, I 

 offered a reward of two shillings for the first owl brought me, and 

 within three hours had three living birds which the men dug out of 

 a cliff in the Chalk-hills. One that I kept two days gave frequent 

 utterance to a chattering cry, especially if any one approached, but it 

 did not hoot. It feeds upon lizards and mice, it is said." 



Male. Upper plumage of a fine deep brown color, marked with 

 roundish spots of light fulvous ; the spots are smallest on the crown, 



