FAR AND NEAR 



small birds called "quits," as the blue quit, the 

 grass quit, the orange quit. We found a nest of 

 the last-named bird on the Umb of an orange-tree, 

 a curious structure woven of fine grasses, and shaped 

 Uke a gourd with the neck bent over the limb, so 

 that the entrance was upon one side of the branch 

 and the body of the nest upon the other. The latter 

 part of February the grass quit was building a nest 

 in a cHmbing vine over the door of the house where 

 we were staying. The male seemed more industri- 

 ous in carrying sticks and straws than the female, 

 — praise I had never before known a male bird to 

 deserve. The song was fine and insect-Uke. 



Three species of hummingbirds were noticeable. 

 One large one, called the " doctor," nearly black, 

 with two long plumes in its tail, drew our attention 

 frequently. When it flew, these long, narrow plumes 

 trailed or undulated behind it, producing a curious 

 rocket-Uke effect, or the effect of some ingenious 

 toy. In the mountains I saw the black mango hum- 

 mingbird gathering spiders' webs from the rocks, 

 no doubt to be used in sticking the Kchens upon the 

 nest, after the manner of our ruby-throat. 



Mockingbirds were common throughout the is- 

 land, — the Antillean form appearing almost iden- 

 tical with our southern mockingbird. The mating 

 season was at hand, and the birds were full of action 

 and of song ; the latter quite unmusical, never as 

 pleasing as that of our catbird. 

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