SMOOTH-BILLED ANI ' 23 



drive out the intruders. It was certain that the anis were bent on 

 robbing the nests, and one was shot in the act of gulping down some- 

 thing which was later found to be an egg. No other instances of this 

 evil habit were observed." 

 Behavior. — Gosse (1847) writes: 



Though its usual mode of progression on the ground is by hopping, or 

 rather bounding, the feet being .lifted together, the Blackbird is seen oc- 

 casionally to run in a headlong manner for a short distance, moving the feet 

 alternately. He is fond of sitting in the morning sun on a low tree with the 

 wings expanded; remaining there perfectly still for a considerable time. In 

 the heat of the day, in July and August, many may be seen in the lowland 

 plains, sitting on the fences and logwood hedges with the beaks wide open, as 

 if gasping for air ; they then forget their usual loquacity and wariness. Often 

 two or tliree will sit in the centre of a thick bush, overhung with a matted 

 drapery of convolvolus, whence they utter their singular cry in a calling tone, 

 as if they were playing at hide-and-seek, and requiring their fellows to come 

 and find them. 



Several observers have noted that anis roost at night huddled close 

 together on a branch, like domestic fowls, and that they often bunch 

 together in this way during a rain. Dr. Wetmore (1927) writes: 



These strange birds are found in flocks that contain from half a dozen to 

 twenty or more individuals, ranging mainly in pasture-lands, but going also 

 into the cane-fields and orange groves to feed. In pastures they remain near 

 the cattle, keeping ahead of them with long hops, in order to get the insects 

 that the cattle scare up. Any intruder is greeted with a querulous call, and 

 the whole flock flies in a straggling line across the fields to perch in a bush or 

 low tree, where they crowd together and peer out curiously, their long tails and 

 arched beaks giving them an odd appearance. In the early morning, when the 

 grass is wet, they frequently sit in the sun with the wings extended in order 

 to dry them or to absorb heat. The wings are small for the size of the bird, 

 and the flight, accomplished by a series of steady wing beats alternating with 

 short sails, is not strong. In a heavy wind the birds are almost helpless, and 

 they seldom rise high from the ground at any time. When on the wing, the 

 back appears concave from the fact that the head and tail are held on a higher 

 level. 



C. J. Maynard (1896) says: 



In flight they most nearly resemble a Canada or Florida Jay, alternately 

 flopping and sailing, moving in a straight forward flight from tree to tree 

 with great rapidity, uttering their mournful notes as they quickly disappear 

 in the distance. * ♦ * 



A careful study of the Anis convinced me of the fact that a number of fe- 

 males are led by two or three males, and these males take great care of their 

 charges. They utter cries of alarm when they perceive an intruder, and drive 

 the females before them into a place of safety. I have even seen males fly 

 against females or young birds which did not attempt to escape soon enough, 

 and knock them off the limb on which they sat and then accompany them to a 

 distant thicket. 



I am inclined to think that the Ani is polygamous and this habit of the 

 males taking care of a number of females would appear to confirm this idea. 



