138 
Messrs. A. and E. Newton’s Observations 
Subfam. Psittaculin^e. 
247. Pionus senilis (Spix). 
Transmitted by Mr. Skinner. 
248. Chrysotis auripalliatus (Less.) : Amazona auropal- 
liatus, Less. Descr. Mamm. et Ois. p. 198: Psittacus flavinu- 
chus, Gould, Zool. Yoy. Sulphur, p. 45, pi. 27. 
This Parrot is common in the Pacific coast-region of Gua¬ 
temala. 
249. Chrysotis albifrons (Sparm.); Souance, Icon, des 
Perr. pi. 30 ; P. Z. S. 1858, p. 35. 
250. Chrysotis-? 
A young bird in Sclater’s collection, from Omoa (Leyland), is 
difficult to determine, but not improbably belongs to an unde¬ 
scribed species. 
There are considerable additions to be made to the present 
list of Central American Parrots. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE V, 
Fig. I. Egg of Tanagra vicarius (p. 16). 
Fig. 2. Egg of Pyrgisoma biarcuatum (p. 18). 
Fig. 3. Egg of Pitangus derbianus (p. 120). 
Fig. 4. Egg of Tyrannus melancholicus (p. 121). 
Fig. 5. Egg of Myiozetetes texensis (p. 123). 
Fig. 6. Egg of Cyanocitta melanocyanea (p. 21). 
Fig. 7- Egg of Turdus grayii (p. 5). 
[To be continued.] 
XIII.— Observations on the Birds of St. Croix, West Indies, 
made, between February 20th and August Qth 1857 by Alfred 
Newton, and, between March Mh and September 28th 1858 
by Edward Newton. (Part II.) 
[Continued from p. 69.] 
18. Grass-green-breasted Humming Bird. Eulampis 
chlorolcemus, Gould, Monogr. Troch. pt. xiv. “ Doctor Bird.” 
This is the only species of this wonderful group of little birds 
that is at all common in St. Croix. Wilson, Audubon, Mr. 
139 
on the Birds of St. Croix. 
Gosse, and several others gifted with the “ pen of a ready 
writer " have so fully described, as far as words will admit, the 
habits of different members of the family Trochilidce, that it is 
unnecessary to say much on this score. Their appearance is so 
entirely unlike that of any other birds, that it is hopeless to 
attempt in any way to bring* a just conception of it to the ideas 
of those who have not crossed the Atlantic; and even the 
comparison so often made between them and the Sphingidre, 
though doubtless in the main true, is much to the advantage 
of the latter. One is admiring the clustering stars of a 
Scarlet Cordia, the snowy cornucopias of a Portlandia, or some 
other brilliant and beautiful flower, when between the blossom 
and one's eye suddenly appears a small dark object, suspended 
as it were between four short black threads meeting each other 
in a cross. For an instant it shows in front of the flower; an 
instant more, it steadies itself, and one perceives the space be¬ 
tween each pair of threads occupied by a grey film; again another 
instant, and emitting a momentary flash of emerald and sapphire 
light it is vanishing, lessening in the distance, as it shoots 
away, to a speck that the eye cannot take note of,—and all this 
so rapidly that the word on one's lips is still unspoken, scarcely 
the thought in one's mind changed. It was a bold man or an 
ignorant one who first ventured to depict Humming Birds fly¬ 
ing ; but it cannot be denied that representations of them in that 
attitude are often of special use to the ornithologist. The pecu¬ 
liar action of this, and probably many or all other species of 
the family, is such, that at times, in flying, it makes the wings 
almost meet both in front and behind at each vibration. Thus, 
when a bird chances to enter a room, it will generally go 
buzzing along the cornice : standing beneath where it is, one 
will find that the axis of the body is vertical, and each wing is 
describing a nearly perfect semicircle. As might be expected, 
the pectoral muscles are very large, indeed the sternum of this 
bird is a good deal bigger than that of the common Chimney 
Swallow (Hirundo rustica, L.). But the extraordinary rapidity 
with which the vibrations are effected seems to be chiefly 
caused by these powerful muscles acting on the very short 
wing-bones, which are not half the length of the same parts in 
140 Messrs. A. and E. Newton's Observations 
the Swallow; and accordingly great as this alar action is, and 
in spite of the contrary opinion entertained by Mr. Gosse (Nat. 
Sojourn in Jamaica, 240), it is yet sometimes wanting in power, 
owing doubtless to the disadvantageous leverage thus obtained; 
and the old authors must be credited, who speak of cobwebs 
catching Humming Birds. 
“On the 3rd of May, 1857, a bird of this species flew into 
the room where I was sitting, and, after fluttering for some 
minutes against the ceiling, came in contact with a deserted 
spider's web, in which it got entangled and remained suspended 
and perfectly helpless for more than a minute, when by a 
violent effort it freed itself. I soon after caught it, still having 
fragments of the web on its head, neck, and wings; and I feel 
pretty sure that, had this web been inhabited and in good re¬ 
pair instead of being deserted and dilapidated, the bird would 
never have escaped*."—A. N. 
“ This bird breeds from the end of March to the end of June. 
It is an easy matter to find its nest; for on approaching within 
ten or a dozen yards of where it is, the bird, if it is on, is sure 
to fly at you, and then retreating remains suspended a few 
seconds just above your head, when it darts off and perches on 
some dead twig, most likely on the very tree which holds its 
nest. It does not st^y here long, but takes short flights into 
the air, returning to the same place, and, when there, showing 
its impatience by a continual flirting or, rather, twitching of its 
wings. If you then retire, keeping your eye on the bird, it will 
presently dart straight on to its nest, leaving it, however, at the 
least movement on your part. This species is not particular as 
to the tree on which it builds, as I have found nests on the 
Silk-cotton, Mango, Manchioneel and Avocado-pear (Laurus 
persea,\i.). They are placed on a horizontal branch, from half 
an inch to two inches thick, and are composed of cotton or the 
* In the ‘ Zoologist ’ for 1858 (p. 5922) is a note from Mr. J. M. Jones, 
in which that gentleman says that the Vireo noveboracensis is sometimes 
captured in the net of the large spider (Epeira clavipes) which is found in 
the Bermudas; and in his recent work, ‘The Naturalist in Bermuda’ 
(p. 126), he again repeats the statement, adding, however, that it is only 
the young of that species which has been known to be thus entangled. 
141 
on the Birds of St. Croix. 
down of a species of Cactus, studded on the outside with 
white Lichen or shreds of bark, the whole structure measuring 
nearly two inches across, and built at the height of from about 
five to fifteen feet from the ground, sometimes concealed by 
leaves, at others on an almost naked bough. The eggs are two 
in number, white, and about 0 55 inch long, by 0*4 inch in trans¬ 
verse diameter."—E. N. 
This bird is as common in St. Thomas as in St. Croix. Dr. 
Lund, writing from St. John's, says it is also found in that 
island. The females are very much smaller than the males. 
t 9. Gilt-crested Humming Bird. Orthorhynchus exilis 
(Gmel.) : Gould, Mon. Troch. pt. xiii. 
After a careful examination of skins procured from St. Croix 
and St. Thomas, we refer them to the above-named species, 
though one of a male presents a slightly different appearance 
from the ordinary type, in having a narrow blue edging to the 
otherwise golden green crest, and thus exhibiting an affinity to 
the closely allied Blue-crest (0. cristatus, L.) from St. Vincent's 
and Barbadoes. The present bird has, we believe, hitherto been 
known only from Martinique and Nevis. 
“ I shot a female of this species at Southgate Farm, June 8th, 
1858; and I only saw two other examples,—one at the same place, 
and the second at Salt River, when accompanied by Mr. Osbert 
Salvin, during that gentleman's short visit to St. Croix. South- 
gate Farm is an estate on the north shore of the eastern end of 
the island, and, much of the land adjacent being out of cultiva¬ 
tion, is chiefly covered with Casha bushes, interspersed with 
Manchioneel along the coast. This is also the case in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of Salt River. I have been told that a Humming 
Bird, smaller than the ordinary one, and therefore probably of 
this species, has been seen in other localities; but it must be 
very uncommon. Of its habits I know nothing."—E. N. 
We beg to acknowledge here the assistance we have received 
from Mr. Gould in determining this and the species last men¬ 
tioned. 
t 10. Pearly-eyed Thrush, Cichlherminia fuscata, Bp. 
142 Messrs. A. and E. Newton's Observations 
Tardus fuscatus, Yieill., Ois. de 1'Amer. Sept. ii. pi. 57 bis. 
“ Thrush.” 
Common in parts of the island overgrown with bush, espe¬ 
cially on the hill-sides, and probably resident. The cock has a 
loud, clear, Meruline whistle, and seems as if he ought to sing, 
but does not. The nest is generally built in the Guava bushes 
(Psidium pomiferum, Linn.), and is a very neat piece of work, 
greatly resembling that of our Jay (Garrulus glandarius, Yieill.), 
excepting, of course, in size. The eggs, four to six in number, 
are of a fine spotless blue-green, deeper in colour, as they are 
larger, than those of the American Robin (Tardus migratorius, 
Linn.). The iris of this bird is of an opaque, pearly white. It 
appears to feed chiefly on fruits and berries, especially Guavas 
and Mangoes. The sexes do not differ materially; but the bills 
of individuals vary greatly in size. The moult takes place as 
early as the end of July, and continues to the end of September. 
This species is as common in St. Thomas as in St. Croix. It 
breeds from the end of May to the end of July. Mr. G. It. Gray 
informs us that Mr. Gould's Colluricincla fusca (P. Z. S. 1836, 
p. 6) is this bird, as shown by the type now in the British 
Museum, where we have also placed examples of our own bird 
from St. Croix. 
11. Golden-crowned Water-Thrush. Siurus aurocapillus, 
Sw. Turdus aurocapillus, Wils. ii. pi. 14, fig. 2 ; Aud. ph 143. 
u Water-Wagtail." 
Apparently only a winter visitant, departing in April, and 
not common. The action of this bird is very singular, though 
probably that of all the members of the genus. It walks leisurely 
about, with its tail elevated perpendicularly, giving it a slight 
jerk at each step. 
12. New York Water-Thrush. Siurus noveboracensis, 
Nutt. Turdus aquaticus, Wils. pi. 22. fig. 5 ; Aud. pi. 433. 
Seiurus aquaticus, Rich, and Sw., Eaun. B. Am. pi. 43. 
Is tolerably common by the side of quick-running streams, 
and occasionally seen away from them. It is most often ob¬ 
served sitting on a stone in the midst of the water, slowly jerk¬ 
ing its tail in the manner of a Dipper {Hydrobata, Yieill.; 
143 
on the Birds of St. Croix* 
Cinclus, Bechst.), and uttering its short quick note, which 
resembles the sound made by striking two flints sharply to¬ 
gether. 
13. Black-and-White Creeper. Mniotilta varia, Vieill.; 
Aud. pi. 90. Certhia maculata, Wils. pi, 19. fig. 3. “Tree 
Creeper.” 
Apparently only a winter visitant, leaving the island at the 
end of March; almost a thorough Creeper in habits. 
14. Parti-coloured Warbler. Parula americana, Bp.: 
Sylvia pusilla, Wilson, pi. 28. fig. 3. Sylvia americana} Aud, 
pi. 15. 
Like the last-mentioned species, apparently only a winter 
visitant, but later in the time of its moving northwards. 
“ I saw one on May 6th, 1858; but most of them had de¬ 
parted about the middle of March.”—E. N. 
115. Yellow Warbler. Dendrceca (estiva (GmeL), Baird. 
Sylvia citrinella, Wils. pi. 15. fig. 5; S. (estiva, Aud. pi. 95. 
“ Wild Canary ;” “ Mule Bird;” “ Cage Bird.” 
Common everywhere, and apparently resident. From its 
colour, and probably from its song (for it is almost the only 
bird in the island that can be said to sing), it has received the 
names by which it is known to the inhabitants. This species 
seems to be more abundant at the sides of the lagoons than 
anywhere else; there examples may always be seen, hopping- 
on the outside branches of the Mangroves, both in habit and 
song much resembling our English Willow Wren [Phyllopneuste 
trochilus, Brehm). Specimens procured agree in all respects 
with those of the common summer visitant to the United 
States. 
“ They build generally in a low shrub, at not more than six 
feet from the ground, though I once found a nest in a Man¬ 
grove at fully ten feet. The nest is composed of coarse bents, 
sometimes mixed with the flower of a large reed, and woven 
with cotton- or sheep’s wool. The eggs seem to be always three, 
a number to which West Indian birds appear to be particularly 
partial.”—E. N. 
144 Messrs. A. and E. Newton's Observations 
f 16. Prairie Warbler. Dendrceca discolor (Vieill.), Baird; 
Sylvia minuta, Wils. pi. 25. fig. 4. S. discolor, Aud. pi. 14. 
Leaves the island for a few months in summer, but is rather 
common during the time it is resident. 
“ I observed this bird last on March 27th, and saw it again 
Sept. 10th."—E. N. 
17. Cape-May Warbler. Dendrceca tigrina (Gm.), Baird; 
Sylvia maritima, Wils. pi. 54. fig. 3 ; Aud. pi. 414 ; d'Orb. Voy. 
de Pile de Cuba, Ois. pi. 10. Certhiola maritima, Gosse, Ill. B. 
Jam. pi. 17. 
Not at all common ; only a winter visitant, and leaving earlier 
than any other of the migrants observed by us, having, it would 
appear, a longer journey than most of them to perform. 
“ I am compelled to differ from Mr. Gosse (B. Jam. p. 87) 
in the decision he has arrived at about this bird being a Cer¬ 
thiola. When I first arrived in St. Croix I had the opportunity 
of observing its manners for several days ; and they were alto¬ 
gether those of a Dendrceca. I further took particular care, not 
only to examine while fresh, but also to preserve, the tongue 
of a male which I shot on March 19th, 1857. This is now be¬ 
fore me; and I am able to compare it with the tongues of Cer¬ 
thiola, Mniotilta, and Dendrceca cestiva. That of Certhiola is, 
besides being penicillate, deeply bifid. Now there is nothing of 
this conformation in any of the others. Of these, it is true that 
D. tigrina has the most bushy pencil of hairs at the tip; but 
Mniotilta and Parula come very near it in this respect : and it 
is also true that D. cestiva differs from these three in having a 
horny point. If any deduction is to be drawn from the charac¬ 
ters of the tongue, D. tigrina must be (and very likely should 
be, on other grounds) removed from the genus Dendrceca, but 
certainly not placed in Certhiola.”—A. N. 
18. Redstart Flycatcher. Setophaga ruticilla, Bp.; Mus- 
cicapa ruticilla, Linn.; Wils. pi. 6. fig. 6 ; Aud. pi. 40. “ Red¬ 
start." 
This beautiful species, having at first sight so much the ap¬ 
pearance of the European Redstart [Ruticilla phcenicura, Bp.), is 
very common in the spring of the year, and especially seen about 
on the Birds of St. Croix. 
145 
houses. For about one week at the end of April 1857, they 
were extremely numerous; but in 1858 the greater part of them 
left in March, though one was seen May 1st. A male, killed 
March 17th, 1858, in plumage almost resembled the female. In 
the same year it was first observed September 6th, on its return 
from its summer quarters. 
19. Long-billed Greenlet. Vireosylvia altiloqua, VieilL 
Ois. de FAm. Sept. pi. 38. Vireo longirostris, Sw. Faun. Bor.- 
Am. ii. p. 237; Cassin, Ill. N. Am. Birds, i. pi. 37. 
Extremely local, though common in the southern part of the 
island, where it breeds; but whether it is resident all the year 
may be doubted. The clear whistle of this bird appears to have 
always been confounded by the inhabitants with that of the 
Cichlherminia fuscata, which it does somewhat resemble. Mr. 
Gosse remarks (B. Jam. p. 195) of the species, which he calls 
V. olivacea, that he can scarcely understand how its note can be 
written “ Whip-tom-kelly” as it has been by some American orni¬ 
thologists ; but it appears much more likely that his " Jolm-to- 
whit” is not the true V. olivacea, but the present bird, first 
figured byVieillot, and afterwards described as new by Mr. 
Swainson (locis citatis) : at least, the call-note of the St. Croix 
species would seem to resemble closely that of the Jamaica bird, 
whose habits Mr. Gosse so well describes. It is probable, too, 
that the true V. olivacea is also found in Jamaica in winter; and 
thus may be reconciled the otherwise conflicting statements of 
authors. 
"On June 5th, 1858, I watched a bird of this species to its 
nest in a Manchioneel, to the leafy part of a bough of which it 
was suspended. It is a beautiful structure, shaped like an in¬ 
verted cone, and composed outwardly of dried blades of grass, 
dead leaves, and wool, woven round the twigs, to which it was 
attached, with spiders' webs, lined inside with finer blades of 
grass, and about three inches and a half in diameter and five in 
height. The eggs, three in number, are white, with a few black 
spots of different sizes chiefly dispersed about the larger end. 
Both nest and eggs call to mind those of the Golden Oriole 
(Oriolus galbula, L.), which, except in size, they greatly re¬ 
semble."—E. N. 
146 Messrs. A. and E. Newton’s Observations 
t 20. Grey Petchary. Tyrannus dominicensis, Bp. : Mus- 
cicapa dominicensis, L.; Aud. pL 170. “ Chieherywee,” “ Chich¬ 
eree.” 
The most conspicuous and common bird in the island, all over 
which it is found. Its favourite station is the top of the spear¬ 
like unexpanded frond of a tall Mountain-cabbage Tree, from 
which place it will, in the breeding season, dart down to attack 
almost any animal passing near, from a stray dog to an unhappy 
“ Gaulin” (Butorides virescens, Bp.). If the quarry be the latter, it 
will make several well-directed stoops, and never leave it until it 
has “ brought it in/’ as the falconers say, in a cane-piece or bush ; 
then, much pleased with its prowess, it returns to its look-out 
station, celebrating its victory with cries of triumph. On one 
occasion, in 1858, a Chicheree was seen to pursue a Gaulin out 
to sea for a quarter of a mile and back again. The pretty little 
Killie-killie (Tinnunculus sparverius, Vieill.) and the Black 
Witch (Crotophaga ani, L.) are equally with the Gaulin the 
objects of its hatred; and as all four species have fairly loud 
voices, the noise of these encounters is not inconsiderable. The 
Petchary in particular is very clamorous, even when there is no 
apparent need; but he takes alarm from the domestic poultry, 
and every morning before dawn, with his oft-repeated note, 
sounding like the cry of a frightened Chimney Swallow (Hirundo 
rustica, L.), and evidently onomatopoeic, is as much the herald of 
the coming day as Chanticleer himself: this noise he is as per¬ 
tinacious as a Guinea-fowl in continuing till sun-down. He has 
much the look of the Ash-coloured Shrike (Lanius excubitor, L.), 
his bold action and his style of colouring both contributing to 
the resemblance. We have never observed that on any occasion 
was the flame-coloured furrow on the head opened and displayed. 
In the nestling plumage it is altogether wanting; but with 
this exception, and that of the wing-coverts being edged with 
pale brown, the bird then resembles the adult. The Chicheree 
feeds on insects, catching them with great dexterity on the wing ; 
but he also indulges largely on the black berries of a myrtle¬ 
leaved parasite which grows plentifully on Orange-trees. The 
seeds of this pass uninjured through the bird’s intestines, and 
when dropped on favourable spots soon germinate,—the bird thus 
147 
on the Birds of St. Croicc. 
being his own planter, and ensuring a plentiful supply of his 
favourite food. The nest is often placed under the fronds, or 
among the spathes, of a Cocoa-nut or Mountain-cabbage tree; 
but sometimes in any ordinary situation, the end of a bough of a 
Manchioneel or Turpentine tree being chosen. It is flat in con¬ 
struction, and large for the size of the bird, being nearly a foot 
in diameter, composed of a platform of twigs, in the midst of 
which is hollowed a cup, lined with fine roots, and thus in archi¬ 
tectural style much resembling that of a Bullfinch (Pyrrhula 
vulgaris, Temm.). The eggs do not seem to exceed three in 
number, and equal in beauty the most splendid varieties of 
those of the Red-backed Shrike (Enneoctonus collurio} Boie); 
they are of a delicate creamy-white, marked at the larger end with 
blotches and spots of pink or orange-brown of different shades 
and sizes, and often disposed in a zone. The bird has eggs from 
the end of May till August. 
f 21. Black-faced Finch. Phonipara bicolor, Bp. Consp. 
Fringilla bicolor, Linn. Spermophila bicolor, Gosse, Ill. B. Jam. 
pi. 64; Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carol, pi. 37. “Cane,” “ Parson,” 
and <e Java Sparrow.” 
The Bunting-like song of this very common bird is heard 
almost as early in the morning as the cry of the Chicheree. It 
frequents the curing-houses, hopping on the uncovered sugar- 
hogsheads, and making a plentiful meal therefrom. It is sociable, 
and generally feeds in small flocks, mostly on the ground, among 
the Guinea-grass (Andropogon bicolor, Roxb.) which is grown as 
forage for horses. The crops of those we have dissected usually 
contained small seeds. It builds its domed nest in a low bush, 
thicket of Bamboo, or even in a creeper planted against a house : 
this is seldom more than four feet or so from the ground, and is 
composed entirely of dry grass, the interior being lined with a 
finer material of the same kind ; the opening at the side is 
large for the size of the nest. It breeds from the middle of May 
to the end of July. The eggs are white, spotted or blotched with 
dull red, especially at the larger end, and often very much re¬ 
semble those of the Certhiola, already described. With one 
exceptional nest of four, three was the number always found. 
148 Messrs. A. and E. Newton’s Obsei'vations 
t 22. Ani. Crotophaga uni, L.; Buff. PL Enl. 102. “ Black 
Witch.” 
Very common, and, from its familiar habits and grotesque ap¬ 
pearance, universally known. Its manners have so often been 
described, that there remains little to be said of them. It lives in 
companies, and is delightfully noisy. It shares, as before men¬ 
tioned, with Tinnunculus sparverius and Butorides virescens, the 
privilege of being the favourite object of the attacks of the 
Chicheree [Tyrannus dominicensis, Bp.) ; and it is hard to say 
whether this bird or the one last mentioned affords most amuse¬ 
ment. If there is a fresh breeze, a flight after a Crotophaga is 
perhaps the best; for, with its long tail and short wings, it gets 
carried away helplessly. It loses its presence of mind, and tries 
perhaps to fly up wind, when “letting drive” would answer by 
far the best; down then comes the Tyrant, and, after one or two 
stoops, hits it such a blow as to send it anyhow into whatever 
shelter presents itself, whether an unpleasant-looking hedge of 
thorns, or a softer bed of Guinea-grass. In consequence of these 
encounters, it is, that the Ani’s plumage, and especially its tail, 
suffers very much; indeed, one can scarcely meet with a speci¬ 
men that has its final appendage at all in good order. There is 
an absurd notion prevalent in the island, that these birds are 
exempt from the common lot of creation, and that the name 
“ Black Witch ” has something to do with their supposed immor¬ 
tality; but it was more probably originally intended to express the 
bird’s ordinary call-note, which, as Mr. Hill rightly says (Gosse, 
B. Jam. p.289), sounds like the word “ que-yuch.” 
“On Junel8th, 1857,1 was shown a nest of this species. As 
I walked up to the tree (a pretty large Tamarind), I saw two birds 
sitting close to what I afterwards found to be the position of the 
nest, which was placed touching the trunk, supported by some 
young boughs that had apparently sprouted out within the last 
few years, and was about five feet from the ground. It was a 
rude collection of sticks and twigs, large and deep, but partly 
filled with dead leaves, among which I discovered fourteen eggs; 
and round the margin were stuck upright a few dead twigs of 
Tamarind. On the 23rd I again went to this nest, and took out 
two of the nine eggs I then found; but on the 26th there were 
149 
on the Birds of St. Croix. 
only four, the nest having- probably been robbed by boys from a 
Negro village close by. On July 2nd there were eight eggs ; but 
a few days afterwards the nest was entirely destroyed. I never 
found the eggs, as if intentionally covered up. The nest was 
evidently common property; there were generally two or three 
birds sitting close to or on it, and up in the tree perhaps four or 
five more, who would continue screeching all the time I was there. 
I found the yelks of the eggs just as described by Mr. Hill in 
Mr. Gosse^s ‘Birds of Jamaica / but on blowing them into a basin 
of water, they appeared to me to assume a spherical form. When 
the egg is fresh, the cretaceous deposit on the shell is very soft 
and easily scored; but it soon hardens considerably.”—A. N. 
22. Yellow-billed American Cuckoo. Coccyzus ameri- 
canus, Bp. Cuculus carolinensis, Wils. iv. pi. 28. fig. 1 ; Aud. 
pi. 275 ; Gould, B. Eur. pi. 242 ; Yarr. B. B. ed. 2. vol. ii. p. 204. 
This occasional straggler to England seems to be confined, at 
least in the breeding-season, to one locality on the south side of 
St. Croix,—a level piece of land, overgrown with low bush, and 
interspersed with a few trees, mostly Manchioneels, through 
which runs a small stream bordered here and there by bits of 
swampy ground, which in dry weather are so many warrens of 
Land-crabs, and surrounded by a few Mangroves. Here its 
harsh guttural call may very often be heard. It is a tame and 
stupid-looking bird, but, contrary to the supposed habits of 
most of the family, appears to show much conjugal affection; for 
on one occasion a male being shot, and shrieking as it fell, a 
female instantly flew to the spot, and fluttered along the ground 
in the manner that an old hen Partridge or other bird would do 
to lead astray the pursuer of her young. 
“On June 2nd, 1858, I shot a female of this species, having 
an egg in her ovary, nearly ready for exclusion; it was quite soft, 
but had got its proper colour. In the gizzard of this bird were 
the remains of two large caterpillars, and a univalve shell. On 
the 29th of the same month, while riding in the locality above 
referred to, I saw the white terminal spots of a Cuckoo’s tail pro¬ 
jecting from a small nest on a Manchioneel that overhung the 
path. It was built in a very open situation; and the bird, as I 
vol. i. M 
150 
Mr. G. C. Taylors Account of a Visit 
rode underneath, was not more than a yard above my head. She 
sat with nearly all her neck and breast outside the nest, which 
was only just large enough to contain the eggs; and I could well 
identify her as of this species. She did not fly off until after 
I had tied up my pony hard by, and had almost touched her with 
my stick. There were three eggs, laid side by side in a row, 
along which, strange to say, the bird had been sitting. The nest 
was some distance from the stem of the tree, and placed loosely 
on the bough; it was a mere platform of small sticks laid one 
across another with a few finer twigs and a little grass as a lining : 
so slightly was it put together, that, on attempting to take it 
from the tree, it fell to pieces.”—-E. N. 
23. Black-eared Cuckoo. Coccyzus seniculus, Gosse, B. of 
Jam. p. 281 (excl. synon.). 
Mr. Sclater informs us that this is identical with Mr. Gosse’s 
specimens from Jamaica; but whether they are truly the same 
as Latham* s seniculus, is at present questionable. 
“ I shot a female of this bird, March 23rd, 1858, at the place 
indicated as a locality for the species last mentioned. I am not 
certain that I ever saw it again. Whether this and che preceding 
are only summer visitors or not, I am unable to say : neither 
bird, prior to my visit, appeared to be known to the inhabitants.” 
—E.N. 
24 [?]-(?) Woodpecker. Ficus-(?). “Woodpecker.” 
A bird answering to the description of a Woodpecker, and so 
called by our informants, seems to be found occasionally; but 
neither of us had the good fortune to meet with one; and the 
accounts were so very vague, as to preclude our giving any 
further indication of it than the present. 
[To be continued.] 
XIV.—Account of a Visit to a Nesting-place of the Frigate-bird 
(Eregata aquila, L.). From a letter of George Cavendish 
Taylor, Esq. 
On the 1st of January, 1858, we went off in a boat with four 
rowers to visit an island some four or five miles from Tigre