132 Some Colony Birds. 



it the Rudder-tail from a curious feature of that appendage, 

 which I will describe. The tail, which is fairly long, opens 

 out like a fan, and when it files, the middle feathers drop a 

 little and in consequence the tail seems to have assumed a pcir- 

 pcndicular position like the rudder of a boat or the caudal 

 hn of a fish, in point of fact, it becomes V-shaped. This 

 feature marks it out at once from all the other birds of the 

 colony and indeed from all other birds 1 know. 



The Rudder-tail (as I proceed to call it) is very com- 

 mon along the Corentyne Coast and. may be seen in pairs. 

 A great number have established themselves about the grounds 

 of the Berbice Asylum where they stalk about with all the self- 

 assurance of legal proprietors. There they build their nests 

 (huge affairs of sticks and straw) in orange trees, and low- 

 bushes well within the reach of most persons. I'he eggs, 

 four in number, are whitish, with purple patches, streaks and 

 blotches. 



When I essayed to take a nest of youngsters, the 

 whole tribe assembled and by loud cries and gestures showed 

 the strongest disapproval of the procedure. The boldest of 

 them flapped their, wings almost in my face. 1 succeeded in 

 rearing one of the young ones but it did not come up to my 

 expectations in point of intelligeiice. Before it was fully 

 mature it contrived to slip throug\li the door of the cage, and, 

 contrary to its Starling nature, never returned. 



The Quiscalus lugubris derives its names from its 

 voice; the former from' a fancied resemblance of its note to 

 that of a Quail {quisqmla., a (.Huiil, Lat.), and lugubris, mourn- 

 ful. Its note, however, is not more mournful than many other 

 birds of its class. It has, a way, something like the Yellow- 

 backs, of lowering its head, dropping its wings and tail, and 

 fluttering its feathers when U wishes to be admired, uttering 

 at the same time several bell-like notes: tc-wit. te-wit. te-w'it, 

 yessir, yessir, what, sir?" 



A few years ago quite a number inhabited the trees 

 along the Vlissengen Road; but since the construction of the 

 new Race Course only a few remain. 



