Sir W. Jardine on the Habits 0/ Crotophaga. 311) 



been so soon replied to. Mr. Schomburgk, in a recent visit, 

 communicated many interesting traits in the manners of the 

 birds of Guiana ; and upon submitting to him the proof sheets 

 of the preceding paper, p. 160, which had been just received, 

 he kindly offered to write out for our " Horae^^ the notes which 

 he had collected upon the habits of the Crotophagce in the dif- 

 ferent localities where he had met with them. These notes in 

 general agree with those of our Tobago correspondent; and, 

 in the breeding of the birds particularly, confirm what was 

 stated regarding the incubation of C. rugirostra, identical with 

 the smaller Guiana species. They leave however the curious 

 question of some species at least (C major) using a common 

 nest in a manner undecided ; though we must confess that 

 information gathered in a proper way from natives has been 

 generally found to be correct in its most important parts. The 

 facts mentioned of their feeding, proved them as observed 

 to be nearly omnivorous ; but 'we still consider insects and 

 fruits to be their principal food. We should also be prepared 

 to find them occasionally eating carrion ; but it may be a 

 question worthy of notice whether the birds observed by Mr. 

 Schomburgk on the dead sheep were employed in eating the 

 flesh, or in collecting insects or larvae which in a warm cli- 

 mate might be very soon attracted to, or engendered in animal 

 matter*. Their resemblance in manners to the CorvincE is also 

 strikingly related ; this may be one of analogy only, both the 

 external form of the members and the internal structure ap- 

 pearing to lead to other groups ; at the same time, as our facts 

 accumulate, it may be found that the Crotophagce may be 

 more correctly placed among the " Rasorial Crows," the Glau- 

 copincs of Sw. exhibiting in the form of the foot the scansorial 

 deviation. 



" I have perused with great pleasure your notes on the Hi- 

 story and Habits of Crotophaga ; and as this genus, by the pe- 



* Mr. Schomburgk informs us that " without further proofs to warrant a be- 

 lief of their being carnivorous, he should rather think they were feeding on the 

 lai'vse. The distance was too great to determine whether they were tearing 

 at the carrion or merely regaling themselves on the insects. In either case 

 it would seem that they are not over nice in the selection of their food, and 

 that the smell of putrefaction is not repulsive to them." — Ed. 



