S. Porter—-A West Indian Diary



55



of vantage where it may have a clear view to enable it to catch such

winged prey as flies, moths, beetles and in fact any manner of flying

insects. Every few minutes these birds sally forth into the air, returning

to the same perch, a loud snap of the bill being the only indication

that it has captured anything. The Kingbirds are the commonest

birds in Nassau and are seen in the main streets, squares, and in the

various gardens.


In the country the little Bahama Ground or Passerine Dove

(Chcemepelia passerine bahamensis) is very common and one sees it

trotting along, always in pairs, by the sides of the dusty roads, loath

to take flight and when it does so it flies with a rapid swaying flight

either into a low tree or into the dense “ bush This bird is found

in many closely related forms throughout most of the Attillean Islands

where its habits always remain the same, though in many islands such

as Haiti it has been nearly exterminated by the natives. These tiny

Doves are seen to feed on minute seeds which they find on the bare

and arid ground.


Much rarer than the forgoing is the beautiful Key West Dove

(Geotrygon martinica), a bird much persecuted by the black population

owing to its food value. I saw this bird but once in the wild state in

the thick vegetation near a large lake in the centre of the island. It

was extremely wild and quickly dashed into the dense growth of

jungle. I saw two others in captivity both in perfect condition, I did

not attempt to purchase them as I expected to get many more birds

from other islands, but I rather wish now that I had done so, though

I am not greatly enamoured with the pigeon family, for their beauty

does not often compensate for their lethargy and excessive pugnacity ;

the Geotrygon Pigeons which are extremely attractive in captivity

and whose habits seems to resemble those of a gallinacious bird rather

than those of a Pigeon, being the exception.


The most characteristic and certainly the most beautiful bird I came

across in the Bahamas was the splendid Multi-coloured Tanager

(Spindalis zena), a bird comparatively common in the “ bush ” lands

on the island of New Providence. It is the first bird which strikes

the eye of even the most casual observer, with its unique striped

plumage. This is one of the birds which seems to be the connecting



