65 
on the Birds of St. Croix. 
whole hand were introduced with the intention of taking it out 
of the cage, it would generally fall over backwards, and clutch 
violently at the intruder with its talons, grasping firmly, and 
submitting to be thus lifted out. There were times, however, 
when it evinced a more friendly disposition, and it would then 
sit patiently on one’s finger and endure to have its head stroked. 
Finding, from trials often repeated, that it showed little taste 
for birds or insects, I fed it almost entirely on small lizards 
(Anolis, sp. ?). These it invariably swallowed whole, head fore¬ 
most of course. On offering it a well-grown lizard, it would try 
to seize it in its beak, as near the head as possible. If it suc¬ 
ceeded in getting a good hold, it instantly grasped the body with 
one foot, and, keeping the animal straight, soon disposed of it; 
but if, as often happened, it missed its first aim, the reptile 
would generally attack the bird, seizing hold of it between the 
gape and eye with its tiny mouth. A struggle would then take 
place, the Owl going over on its back and endeavouring with one 
or both feet to pull off the lizard, the latter seldom giving way 
except with a mouthful of the former’s facial bristles, which in 
this species are very long even in the young bird. On these 
occasions, as often as not, the reptile would have the best of the 
battle, and make his escape. A few days after I received this 
live bird, an adult, believed to be one of its parents, w T as shot 
and sent to me from the same locality. The stomach of this 
example contained insects only; its sexual organs were much in¬ 
jured by shot. At the time I believed it to be a male, but am now 
inclined to change this opinion.”—A. N. 
“A male of this species was brought to me from the Great 
Fountain Estate on May 11th, 1858, the stomach of which con¬ 
tained the remains of several beetles. On September 1st, I re¬ 
ceived a young bird which had been knocked down by a stone 
on the Estate Allendale; it was full-grown and feathered, with 
the exception of a small quantity of nestling-down on the back 
of its head. I was unable to ascertain the sex. I was told that, 
at the Fiver and Great Fountain Estates, Owls were generally 
heard ‘ bawling’ at sunrise; but I have been to those places at 
that hour, and listened for them to no purpose.”—E. N. 
Though there does not seem to be much doubt of this being 
VOL. i. 
F 
