TINKLING GRAKLE. 217 



strong beaks." He elsewhere states that " they 

 are said to build in hollow trees." (MSS.) 



The flesh is not eaten; but having a curiosity 

 to taste it, I had one broiled. The flesh of the 

 breast was well- tasted and juicy, but so dark, 

 tough, and coarse-grained, that I should readily 

 have mistaken it for heef. 



I found the tracheal muscles of this bird large 

 and globose. 



Fam.— STURNID^.— (T^Ae Starlings,) 

 TINKLING GRAKLE.* 



Tin-tin . — Barbadoes Blackbird. 



Quiscalus crassirostris. — Sw. 



The appearance, voice, and habits of this bird 

 had pretty well convinced me of its distinctness 

 from Q. versicolory before I was aware that Mr. 

 Swainson had described it in " Two centenaries 

 and a quarter," p. S55. From the length of his 

 specimen, it is probable the tail was not fully 

 developed. 



This is one of the first birds which a stranger 

 notices : his conspicuous size and glossy plumage, his 

 familiar business-like manners, and his very peculiar 



* Length 12^ inches, expanse ]8|, flexure 6, tail 5^, rictus 1-j^, 

 tarsus 1^, middle toe 1^. Intestine 12 inches; two caeca ^ inch long, 

 § inch from cloaca. Irides cream-white. 



L 



