242 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



time vociferating loudly. They exhibit a decided preference for mangroves, and 

 later, by the middle of the month, build their nests in them, usually selecting 

 bushes which overhang the water. These birds inhabit all of the higher keys 

 from Key West to Cape Florida. They also occur on the west coast in suitable 

 localities, but I do not think that they are as abundant on the east side of the 

 peninsula. They must migrate early, as I never found them in autumn." 1 



Mr. W. E. D. Scott says: "The earliest record I have of its arrival about 

 Tarpon Springs, Florida, is April 23, 1887, and the birds are common till late in 

 September. The eggs are laid in this vicinity from about the middle to the last 

 of May, and but one brood appears to be reared." 



Mr. Atkins' notes are as follows: "Arrives at Punta Rassa middle of April; 

 nests commonly on the islands and along the shore in mangrove bushes ; seems 

 to prefer an isolated tree or bush near the water. Last noted at Punta Rassa 

 September 13. Arrives at Key West about April 11. A few breed here." 2 



First Lieut. Wirt Robinson, Fourth Artillery, United States Army, found 

 this species not at all uncommon at Matanzas Inlet, Florida, and took three sets 

 of eggs, which are now in the United States National Museum collection, on 

 May 18 and 23, 1894. Here they nested in the low mangroves. 



The Gray Kingbird is far more abundant in the West India Islands, espe- 

 cially in Cuba, Jamaica, Dominica, and the Bahamas, where it is one of the 

 most conspicuous birds. Its general habits, food, and manner of flight appear 

 to be very similar to those of our common Kingbird, and, like it, it is fearless and 

 pugnacious in the defense of its chosen nesting site, boldly attacking birds much 

 larger than itself. 



Mr. Richard Hill, of Spanish Town, Jamaica, in some interesting notes 

 furnished to Mr. Gosse, says: "The Jamaica bird is not exclusively an insect 

 feeder, but eats very freely of the sweet wild berries, especially those of the 

 pimento. These ripen in September, and in groves of these this bird may 

 always be found in abundance. By the end of September most of the migrant 

 birds have left the island. * * * 



"This is among the earliest of the birds to breed in Jamaica. As early as 

 January the mated pah is said to be in possession of some lofty tree, sounding 

 at day dawn a ceaseless shriek, which is composed of a repetition of three or 

 four notes sounding like 'pe-chee-ry,' from which they derive their local name. 

 * * * In feeding, just before sunset, they usually sit eight or ten in a row, 

 on some exposed twig, darting from it in pursuit of their prey, and returning to 

 it to devour whatever they have caught. They are rapid in their movements, 

 ever constantly and hurriedly changing their positions in flight. As they fly 

 they are able to check their speed suddenly and to turn at the smallest imagin- 

 able angle. At times they move with motionless wings from one tree to another. 

 When one descends to pick up an insect from the surface of the water, it has 

 the appearance of tumbling, and, in rising again, ascends with a singular motion 



1 Birds of Florida and eastern North America, 1881, p. 176. 

 - The Auk, VI, 1889, p. 318. 



