i86 Bird Studies. 



and therefore high from the bottom to the top. It is a common bird in the 



Bahamas and West Indies, where it is known as the " Tick Bird," and in places 



where cattle are grazed many of these birds follow after 



•'^"'- them or light on their backs in quest of parasites, which 



Crotophaga ani Linn, ^ ^-* , . , ,. ... 



form their food. The birds are shm m build and have 

 very long tails. The average length of the Ani is about fourteen inches. 



When North America was settled by the Puritans in New England and 



the Cavaliers in Virginia, there were regularly in the latter State and as far 



Carolina Paroauet "^''^^^ ^^ Maryland, the Great Lakes, Iowa, and Nebraska, 



conuruscaroiincnsis and souietimes in Pennsylvania and New York, what the 



'""■*■ early settlers and historians called Parrots. 



For formerly the Carolina Paroquet occupied all the region as far north as 

 defined, and extended its range west to Colorado. So far as now known, the 

 birds are found only in a few localities in the Indian Territory and in parts 

 of Florida. Even the last twenty-five years has shown a marked decrease in 

 the birds in Florida. During the winter of 1875 ^"d 1876, which I spent in 

 Sumpter County on Panasoffkee Lake, I saw large flocks of these birds 

 daily, and also noticed many flocks the same year in passing up and down 

 the Ocklawaha River. In the winter of 1879 and 1880 I saw only two flocks, 

 and these were small. During the years from 1885 to 1892 I was in Florida 

 for at least half of each year, and in 1886 the entire year, but I find only one 

 record of Paroquets in these years, a small flock seen at a place called Lin- 

 den. As my travels were taken to study the birds of the region, and as 

 they extended to every point of the Gulf Coast from Cedar Keys to the 

 Dry Tortugas, and also well into the interior, I conclude that but a small 

 remnant of these birds exists, and while doubtless man is directly responsible 

 for their actual destruction, yet I cannot but believe that the more subtle 

 indirect influences growing out of the settlement of the country are far more 

 responsible for the results than the actual slaughter, great as it has been, 

 which has occurred. 



The birds are about thirteen inches long. The adults have yellow heads, 

 the color extending to the neck and throat, thus forming a hood of gold. 

 This color is more intense, becoming orange or even reddish on the fore- 

 head and sides of the face. The bend of the wing and the feathers nearest 

 to the feet are also yellow or orange, and the under surface of the tail is 

 yellowish. The other portions of the body are bright grass green. Im- 



