BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 
77 
it extracts from the flowers. The stomachs of several specimens 
which I examined contained nothing but insects. 
Regarding the food of this bird, Dr. Bryant states, “ On my arrival 
at Nassau the leaf of life ( Verea crenata) was in full bloom, and these 
birds seemed to derive their whole subsistence from the insects 
found in the flowers. These it did not procure by inserting its bill 
into the flower, but by thrusting it through the petals. After the 
flowers had disappeared, I saw them in large numbers about the 
sour oranges, devouring the juice and pulp of the fruit, and also 
the small insects attracted there.” 
Mr. N. B. Moore states, “ There is much delicious nectar within 
the flower of this plant ( Verea crenata), of which the Certhiola is very 
fond, and which it has learned to obtain by thrusting its bill through 
the petals. I have spent much time in examining these flowers, 
and never, but in one instance, and that of a malformed one, did I 
find an insect in the nectary until it had been penetrated by the bill 
of the bird. After an opening had been made by him, very small 
black ants and very small winged insects may be found therein.” 
The period of incubation commences during the latter part 
of March. 
