S. Porter—A West Indian Diary



59



with rapidity over the masses of flowering creepers and vines searching

for minute insects and sucking the honey from the blossoms. It is

very impatient of observation and soon makes off if it sees that it

is being watched. By the way it settles on the trunks of trees and runs

up the bark it reminds one of the European Creeper. This species is

about 4J inches in length and is greyish brown above with a white line

over the eye and white markings on the wings, the throat is dark

grey and the under parts pale yellow, the bill is long, slender, and curved.


When Columbus landed on the Bahamas he found the various

islands tenanted by countless thousands of the beautiful Ruddy

Elamigoes. Alas ! owing to ceaseless persecution on the part of the

black and white inhabitants these wonderful birds have been reduced

to the merest remnant of their former numbers. Three small colonies

appear to be left, one on each of the following islands, Andros, Abaco,

and Inagua. These are now fortunately protected by the government,

otherwise the birds would have doubtless been exterminated, as the

young ones are greatly esteemed by the natives for food.


Before the discovery of these islands another bird was exceed¬

ingly abundant; this was the beautiful Bahama Islands Amazon

Parrot (Amazona bahamensis). Judging by the statement of Columbus

that “ flocks of Parrots do obscure the sun ” these birds must have

been exceedingly numerous. These vast flocks have now disappeared

for ever and a pitiful remnant remain on one small island, a testimony

to the destructiveness of the white races, though I suppose the black

inhabitants, mainly escaped slaves from America, were responsible

for the slaughter of vast numbers of these birds for food.


This bird is the most northerly of the “ Island ” Amazons and

is at the same time one of the most beautiful. I made every inquiry

in Nassau concerning this bird but no one seemed to know anything

about its present status.


Every one had heard of them, but all said that they were very

rare nowadays. A friend has recently taken up his abode on Exuma

Island, which is not a great distance from the island where the bird

is still found. He has promised to send me information concerning it,

and also try to obtain a specimen for me.


(To he continued.)



