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



23. Tinnunculus sparverius, I. c. p. 273. (Gret-gru 

 Falaise.) 



This little Hawk is very useful as an insect- (cricket and grass- 

 hoppers &c.) destroyer ; it is known sometimes to make a dash at a 

 chicken, is a very bold bird, will soon become tame enough to 

 feed ; it then greedily eats small lizards &c. These birds possess 

 considerable power of flight, going at times to a great height, and 

 circling about for a long time. I have seen them hovering, per- 

 fectly motionless, for several minutes at a time in the teeth of a 

 very stiff breeze, then suddenly swoop and carry off some small 

 animal or grasshopper so rapidly that their motions could hardly be 

 followed. 



24. Btjtorides virescens, I. c. p. 273. (Caylie.) 



Generally found wading in the shallow stony parts of our rivers ; 

 towards evening may often be seen in the pastures, especially in wet 

 weather. When disturbed it flies for concealment to some tree 

 overgrown with lianes, and soon hides itself, which it does very 

 cleverly. 



25. Nycticorax violaceus, I. c. p. 273. (Crabier.) 



Much valued by the sportsman as a game-bird. Keeps hidden in 

 the woods during the daytime, and towards evening comes down to 

 the sea-coast and the open parts of the rivers, to seek its food, which 

 seems to be principally crabs. 



b. Species new to the list. 



The second collection forwarded by Mr. Semper contains examples 

 of the following six species, which were not included in the first. 

 I append Mr. Semper's remarks upon each of them. 



1. Antrostomtjs rutilus, Burm. 



I cannot distinguish the single skin sent of this species from the 

 corresponding sex of A. rutilus (vide P. Z. S. 1866, pp. 136, 586). 

 Mr. Semper gives its vernacular name as the " Cent coups de 

 Couteau," under which it is also figured in Lieut. Tyler's drawings. 

 See P. Z. S. 1871, p. 266. 



" A night bird, builds on the ground, or rather lays and batches 

 there ; during the day they nestle in pairs on the ground in quiet out- 

 of-the-way places ; but at night, during March to June, they disperse ; 

 and their cry, * Cent coups de Couteau,' rapidly pronounced, is to be 

 heard in all directions in those places which they affect. From June 

 to March they are seldom heard in the open, and it is supposed they 

 retire into the interior of the island. (By * open ' is meant the 

 cultivated part of the island, generally near the sea.)" — J. E. S. 



2. Ceryle alcyon (Linn.) : Sharpe, Kingfishers, pi. 79. 



" The ' Pie,' or ' Kingfisher,' is to be found in pairs from Decern- 



