The Roller-like Birds 



and quickness of the sally, was very much in contrast with the air of stupidity it 

 assumed while at rest, showing that in spite of its apparent laziness it was never- 

 theless on the alert for its prey." In nesting habits the Todies accord with the 

 other members of the great group to which they belong, since they excavate 

 burrows in banks and lay pure white eggs, in appearance exactly like small 

 Kingfishers' eggs. Taylor, in speaking of the Green Tody (T. viridis] of Jamaica, 

 says : " The tunnels are very rarely, if ever, in high situations, but on the contrary 

 may frequently be found at the sides of shallow ditches and hollows that are 

 commonly formed in soft soil during heavy rains. I have often surprised the 

 Todies at work. In beginning a tunnel they cling in an awkward manner to the 

 face of the cliff or bank, fluttering the wings frequently as if for support. So far 

 as I have been able to observe, in digging they appear to employ the beak only. 



. . . The burrows run horizontally and to 

 a considerable depth, but invariably (so far 

 as my experience goes) turn at right angles 

 at a few inches from the entrance. The 

 tunnel terminates in a somewhat rounded 

 cell, where upon a little heap or bed of fine 

 soft earth, without any lining whatever, the 

 eggs are laid." The number of eggs in this, 

 as with the other forms, appears to be three 

 or four. Of the tameness of the Cuban 

 Tody, Mr. Taylor adds that it "seems rather 

 the tameness of indifference than of con- 

 fidence. I have accomplished the capture 

 of specimens with a butterfly net at different 

 times with little difficulty, and frequently a 

 Tody has permitted so near an approach 



that I have been tempted to put out my hand in the hope of taking it." They 

 keep much in pairs, if not constantly, at least for the greater part of the year, 

 and appear to wander but little, "returning constantly to the same twig, where 

 they will patiently sit and watch, with head drawn in and beak pointing 

 obliquely upward, the plumage much puffed out, the wings meanwhile being 

 flirted by a continuous, rapid, vibratory movement." It is to be regretted that 

 in many localities these engaging little birds are becoming rare, due in large 

 'measure to the introduction of the mungoose, which seeks the burrows, 

 destroying the eggs and young as well as the old birds. 



The various species of Tody are, with possibly one exception, confined in 

 distribution to separate islands of the Greater Antilles. Thus the Green Tody 

 (T. viridis) inhabits Jamaica, the Cuban Tody (T. multicolor) of course the island 

 of that name, while other species are limited to Santo Domingo (T. subulatus and 

 T. dominicensis] and Porto Rico (T.hypochondriacus), with one (T. pukherrimus) 

 of unknown habitat, but presumed to be from Jamaica. To give some idea of 

 the beautiful appearance of these little birds, the following description maybe 

 given of the Green Tody, or Robin, as it is locally called. Only three and seven 



FIG. 152. Green Tody, Todus viridis. 



