16 



Limatræ, der var overgroet med Mistier og stod omtrent 15 

 Fod fra Døren paa en Plantage-Negers Buus. Negeren for- 

 talte, at en Flok Anier samledes paa og omkring Træet Morgen 

 og Aften, og Kirk bestræbte sig flere Gange for at iagttage 

 dem uden dog at kunne opdage Noget af Betydning. Ni Dage 

 irad tog ban daglig et Æg af Reden, og den 10de Dag fandt 

 han den liggende med 2 ituslagne Æg ved Foden af Træet. 

 Den var kunstløs bygget af grovt Materiale, hovedsagelig smaa 

 Ojuiste og Pinde og manglede ganske enhver blød Udfodring*). 

 I Slutningen af samme Maaned opsporede han en anden Rede, 

 der var bygget ganske som forrige, men denne Gang i et tem- 

 melig høit Træ, som dog ligeledes var overvoxet med Slyngplanter; 

 den blev ladt i Fred, og der blev lagt fem Æg i den, af hvilke 

 der udklækkedes 2 Unger**). Det er navnlig paa Grund af hvad 

 han i disse 2 Tilfælde har iagttaget, at Kirk er tilbøielig til at 

 antage Fortællingen om Aniernes fælles Redebygning og Rug- 

 ning for ubegrundet; for at skaffe endnu mere afgjørende Be- 

 viser bestræbte han sig imidlertid for at finde flere Reder; det 



*) 1. c. «I however fortunately fell in with one last year, in the beginning 

 of Uctober (1837). It was built in the fork of a lime tree, covered with 

 a thicket of misseltoe vine, and situated within fifteen feet of the dwelling- 

 house door of one of our labourers. His deseription went to sav that 

 towards evening and morning a flock of the birds used to assemble upon 

 the tree and in its vicinity, where they kept up a considerable noise. I 

 made it my study to watch them on several occasions, but was unable 

 to gather anything of importance. 1 robbed the nest of one egg daily 

 to the amount to nine, and on my tenth visit found the nest with two 

 broken eggs lying at the root of the tree. It was rudely constructed of 

 coarse materials, chiefly small stieks, with the more pliable portions 

 placed inside, but was totally destitute of any soft subslance as a 

 lining. 

 ") 1. c. »Another nest was discovered towards the end of the same month, 

 constructed in a similar manner, but placed on this occasion on a prelty 

 high tree, also covered with a creeping vine; this being left undisturbed 

 live eggs were Iaid, from which two young birds were produced. From 

 what 1 have observed in these two instances I am inclined to believe 

 that the report of their uniting in the construction of the nest and tlnir 

 hatching in concert is erroneous, but I shall endeavour ere long lo 

 procure more information when I shall again address you». 



