CLARK: LESSER ANTILLEAN BIRDS. 
245 
up from St. Vincent by Ober did not satisfactorily agree with one 
in a somewhat similar state of plumage from Mexico. Unfortu¬ 
nately, it was an immature bird. 
Mr. J. H. Gurney (’76, p. 487) says that one of these hawks from 
St. Vincent was living in the Zoological society’s gardens in London 
in 1876. “This example was in immature dress when it arrived in 
the gardens, but is now in full plumage, with the exception of a 
slight tinge of rufous brown on the back, and sides of the head, and 
also on the tertials.” He further states that this bird after a moult 
became slaty or grayish in color, due to a whitish bloom on the 
feathers, that soon wore off. This condition is comparable to 
that seen in many birds when in a perfectly fresh condition, and is 
well brought out in Caloenas nicobctrica and in the dorsal plumes 
of Butorides virescens. 
This large hawk is common in the higher woods of St. Vincent, 
where it frequents the immediate vicinity of water courses, keeping 
usually near the ground. It is especially numerous in the woods 
behind the town of Barrouallie. As it very rarely soars, and is 
naturally retiring and shy, keeping well away from cultivated areas, 
it might very well escape the observation of anyone to whom its 
presence on the island was unknown. The Black Hawk is said by 
the natives of St. Vincent to subsist entirely upon crabs, and wher¬ 
ever it occurs many little heaps of broken crab shells may be found 
along the streams. A peculiar fresli-water species ( Geocarcinus 
ruricola) which hatches directly from the egg into the adult form, is 
abundant in the upper reaches of the St. Vincent rivers, has the 
same local distribution as this bird, and is the species upon which 
it is said chiefly to feed. 
This bird is eaten by the negroes of St. Vincent, and by them is 
held to be superior to fowl. Its cry is a series of ascending whis¬ 
tling notes, and bears a striking likeness to that of a young turkey, 
but is, of course, very much louder. In general actions and manner 
of flight the Black Hawk bears a strong resemblance to the Black 
^ ulture ( Catharista urubu ), but is almost never seen above the 
tree-tops; when it does soar, however, the similarity is very 
striking. 
Ortalis ruficauda Jard. Cocorico ; Cockrico ; Guan. — The 
Cocorico is found in the woods on the northern end of Bequia, and 
on the western end of Union Island, particularly about Chatham 
