BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE 339 



the twain doubled back to the hilltop separately or together, or con- 

 tinued their flight to the river. 



Although the clarinero was so spirited in courtship, it was the 

 sanate who decided when she desired his attentions, and this was 

 usually about the middle of the afternoon. TheD she vibrated her 

 wings and called with pleading peeps much weaker than his. Some- 

 times she might continue this for a considerable period without at- 

 tracting a clarinero, although several were in sight. When a clarinero 

 responded, be flew to her with shrill, ear-piercing cries and quivering 

 wings, and their union was completed in a moment. Then they 

 separated, perched not far apart witb wings still violently vibrating, 

 and continued their calls; but their notes were weaker than before 

 and soon died away. 



Nesting. — The nests of the boat-tailed grackles are usually built 

 in colonies and are often placed near water, in willow trees or bushes 

 along the banks of lakes or rivers, or among rushes and reeds at the 

 marshy borders of lagoons. But often they are situated in the shade 

 trees or clumps of bamboos about human habitations, sometimes at 

 a considerable distance from water. At "Alsacia" all the grackles 

 built well up on the hill, far above the river. A few of the sanates 

 in this colony placed their nests in orange or lemon trees, or only 8 

 or 10 feet above the ground in low, thornless bushes growing in the 

 pastures that surrounded the house. But the majority preferred to 

 nest high up in the coconut palms where they roosted. 



I wanted very much to see the nests, but at first was timid about 

 climbing so high above the ground among the giant fronds of the 

 coconut trees; for despite their tremendous size, they are only exag- 

 gerated leaves, and those of us who grow up in the temperate zones 

 develop a prejudice against supporting our weight on leaves. At the 

 beginning I sent up a slender lad to look into the nests and report their 

 contents to me. But after I had watched the boy clambering in 

 perfect safety among the fronds, I overcame my prejudices and 

 ventured up myself. A man may climb by the aid of these giant 

 leaves as though they were branches, provided of course that he keeps 

 his weight fairly close to the trunk, and ascends to the top of the palm 

 tree. The lowest dying leaf must be avoided, for it is on the point 

 of becoming detached and may fall at the slighest touch. Above 

 this the fronds are strong and safe. In their broad, cuplike bases 

 fallen flowers and blasted fruits, shreds of decaying sheaths and 

 miscellaneous debris, have accumulated and turned to mold, in which 

 graceful pendent ferns, as well as grasses and various other plants, 

 strike root and form a veritable aerial garden. Among these air 

 plants hang the green clusters of ripe and ripening fruits, each larger 



