BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 
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ash, streaked with fine lines of brown, becoming broader upon the 
sides ; wings, rufous-brown, feathers slightly edged with pale rufous ; 
wing-coverts tipped with white, forming two narrow bars ; tail, dark 
brown, slightly tipped with dull white, wanting on the two middle 
feathers; legs, bluish black; bill, black; iris, yellow. The female 
resembles the male. 
Length about n, wing 5, tail 5, tarsus 1.60, bill .90. 
This beautiful songster makes its home among the Bahama 
Islands, where it is very abundant throughout the year. Upon 
landing upon Highburn Key I observed a large bird clinging to 
the top of a small branch, which swayed about in the light breeze. 
It had the appearance of a Mocking-bird, but was much larger than 
any I had ever seen. As I looked, it lifted its head and uttered a 
series of notes such as I had rarely if ever heard equalled by any of 
our songsters. As it sung, gently swaying from one side to the 
other, it would suddenly cease, and then softly commence again, 
gradually increasing in power until it seemed carried away by the 
beauty of its own melody. 
Dr. Bryant, during his visits to the Bahamas, found it very abun- 
dant. He says, “ On those keys, which are barely large enough for 
any land birds to inhabit them, this bird is sure to be the first 
settler; and in some of them, as Ship Channel Keys, for instance 
which are only a few acres in extent, there would be two or three 
pairs, each occupying its own domain, which they did not allow to 
be invaded by the others without giving battle at once. It was 
