1886.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 615 



to another they utter a uote resembliug " tsip, tsip." They buikl a 

 domed nest, generally composed of fine roots and lined with soft dry 

 grass (rather a bulky structure for such a small bird), placed in a small 

 shrub or among the roots on a bank overhanging the road. The eggs 

 are three and occasionally four in number, of a dull white, with several 

 reddish-brown spots, confluent at the blunt end. They measure .59 inch 

 by .48 inch. 



18. Volatiuia jacaiina (Linn.). Blue-black Grass See-see. 



$ Length, 4^ inches ; expanse, 6| inches ; wing, 2 inches. 



Eather shy; frequents pastures and Guinea-grass fields, on the seeds 

 of which it feeds, running along under the grass and picking up the 

 fallen seeds. Is fond of perching on a small dry shrub and springing 

 into the air several times, uttering a prolonged " cliur-r," always alight- 

 ing on the same spot again. Found a nest in April at Hope Estate, in 

 a pasture near the sea. The nest was placed in a tuft of gx^ass about 6 

 inches off the ground, in shape like the bottom of a teacup, composed 

 entirely of very fine dried roots, with no lining, 3 inches in diameter at 

 top and 1 inch deep. The eggs are two, of a dirtj^ white, with thick brown 

 spots at the large end and scattered spots of the same color over the 

 rest of the egg. They measure .08 inch by .50 iuch and .60 iiich by .48 

 inch. The female is brown. 



[This species is new to the Lesser Antilles, but is found in Tobago. — 

 G. y. L.] 



Family ICTEKID^. 



19. Quiscalus lumiuosus, Lawr. Blackbird. Merle. 



S Length, 10 inches ; expanse, 14.J inches ; wing, 4| inches. 



9 Length, 9^ inches; expanse, 13 inches ; wing 4| inches. 

 The bete noir of the Indian-corn grower and the friend of the stock- 

 keeper, this bird is well known all over the island, gregarious, noisy, 

 and quarrelsome, committing havoc among the young corn and exult- 

 ing over the feast with its cry of ^'- green-corn-sweet; " frequents cattle- 

 pens and pastures, where they do excellent service in picking off the 

 ticks and other vermin which infest the cattle ; a cominon sight in the 

 pastures are these birds walking about the backs of the cattle and cHjig- 

 iug on to the tail in search of ticks ; the animals seem to enjoy this, and 

 will not even swish their tails for fear of disturbijig their feathered 

 friends ; they feed also on earthworms and insects ; have observed them 

 eat fresh meat; fond of water; during the heat of the day they resort 

 to the small streams for a bath, and then stretch their wings out to dry; 

 they generally select a Mango tree for a roosting place, and the noise 

 made by them when settling down for the night is almost deafening ; 

 they are heard occasionally during the night, and in the earlj^ morning 

 the noise commences again, before they depart on their foraging expe- 

 ditions. 



