650 REV. J. E. SEMPER ON THE BIRDS OF ST. LUCIA. [May 21, 



ence observed between the male and female ; they generally keep in 

 pairs, though sometimes small mobs of eight or ten may be seen. 

 Birds of the first year have merely a foreshadowing of the beautiful 

 plumage of the older birds. 



Their nest is said to be formed by fastening together the two sides 

 of a leaf of the banana, and then building on this foundation. 



13. Quiscalus lugubris, I. c. p. 271. (Merle.) 

 The commonest bird in St. Lucia— that is to say, in the cultivated 

 and inhabited parts of it. This bird is seldom or never seen but in 

 the neighbourhood of cultivation. It is a sort of general scavenger, 

 eating any thing that comes to band. The male is of a rich glossy 

 bluish black, the female of a sombre brown ; the birds of under one 

 year resemble the adult hens. They pair, but not strictly, and during 

 the day are scattered about foraging ; towards evening small com- 

 panies of them may be seen making for a general sleeping-rendezvous 

 in a tall tree, or cluster of small trees (they seem to prefer the cab- 

 bage-palm for the purpose), where several hundreds will meet to roost. 

 About sunset, or a little after, the whole assemblage keeps up 

 a chirping and chattering for some minutes, during which time 

 stragglers may be seen hastening to join the assemblage ; just about 

 daybreak the same musical entertainment is repeated, after which the 

 assembly disperses for the daily search for food, &c. The people here 

 say that the Merles thus hold" their morning and evening prayers. 



These birds build a large nest of vegetable fibres, leaves of canes 

 and grasses, on some large bushy tree, numbers on the same tree. 

 April and May is the season for breeding with them, as, indeed, it is 

 for most of the birds here. The male Merle during its flight, and 

 at times when courting, carries his tail in a very peculiar manner, 

 forming an angle with the body, either to right or left ; and a cross 

 section of the tail then forms a wedge or angle, so that at first sight 

 the tail seems to be out of joint and injured. 



14. Elainea martinica, I. c. p. 271. 

 Not recognized. Country name not given. 



15. Myiarchus latirostris, I. c. p. 271. (Gobemouche soli- 

 taire.) 



Met with in quiet cool shady places in the woods. 



16. Myiarchus erythrocercus, I. c. p. 271. (Pipperie 

 Gran-bois.) 



Grenerally found in pairs in the woods. 



of Icterus laudabilis, but, on preparing it for stuffing, found in its ovary a fully 

 developed egg. This specimen was obtained at Micond, on the east coast of the 

 island ; and the bird is said to be common enough there." 



On examining this specimen carefully I have come to the conclusion that it 

 is merely a young female of Icterus laudabilis breeding in immature plumage. 

 This is, we know, the case in many species in which the sexes, when perfectly 

 adult, are alike in plumage. — P. L. S. 



