84 Mr. E.G. Taylor on the Birds of the West Indies. 



^46. Cassicus persicus, Sclater's Cat. no. 778. 



This species is tolerably abundant both in Trinidad and on 

 the mainland. It is a noisy, restless bird, something like a Jay 

 in its manners. When alive or fresh killed, it has a strong. 

 Crow-like smell. On my return from the Bande del Est, on the 

 20th February, I came upon a colony of these birds breeding. 

 The locality selected was four trees standing in a small clearing 

 in the woods, from which the long purse-like nests hung down 

 in masses. The nests were high up, and the niggers who were 

 with us declined to climb up the trees on account of the ants ; 

 but I managed to pull down several of the nests with a long 

 bamboo-pole, while the birds flew about, screaming with all their 

 might. Most of the nests contained young birds or eggs ready 

 to hatch ; however, I succeeded in obtaining a few fresh eggs. 

 These are small for the size of the bird, being no larger than a 

 Thrushes, white in colour, spotted and streaked with dark puv- 

 ple. No nest contained more than three eggs or young birds, 

 and some less. 



47. Icterus xanthornus, Sclater's Cat. no. 808. 



Very abundant both in Trinidad and on the main : in the 

 former place it goes by the name of " Corn-bird," probably from 

 its bright-yellow colour. The nest is similar in shape to that 

 of Cassicus persicus, but smaller ; it is usually suspended from 

 the end of the long slender fronds of the Groo-groo Palm {Abto- 

 comia, sp. ?). This bird does not breed in colonies, but singly. 



Ji8. Xanthosomus icterocephalus, Sclater's Cat. no. 829. 

 Occurs in Trinidad, but is not very common. 



>49. Leistes guianensis, Sclater's Cat. no. 835. 

 Obtained in Trinidad, but not abundant there. 



^50. QuiscALUS LUGUBRis, Sclatcr's Cat. no. 855. 



Local in Trinidad ; never seen by me near Port of Spain, 

 but common in some other localities. Very tame and familiar. 

 Irides yellow. 



51. QuiSCALUS, sp. ? 



I found a species of Quiscalus, which I never saw in Trinidad, 

 excessively abundant on the Orinoco and the coast of Venezuela, 



