204 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



382, Conurus carolinensis (LINN.) [392.] 



Carolina Paroquet. 



Hab. Formerly South Atlantic and Gulf States; up the Mississippi to Missouri; up the Missouri 

 River to the Platte. Colorado; regularly to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, etc. For- 

 merly north in the Eastern United States to Pennsylvania and the Lakes. 



In the first part of the present century the beautiful Carolina 

 Parakeet was very abundant in the South Atlantic and Gulf States, and 

 its migrations extended far northward. It has continued to diminish 

 in number until it is now nearly exterminated, existing only in remote 

 localities of the lower Mississippi Valley and- Gulf States, it is still 

 abundant in some regions of Florida. Said to breed in companies in 

 hollow trees, usually cypress and sycamores. In a collection of eggs 

 made in Georgia between the years 1853 an< ^ *865 is a se t of two eggs 

 of this species, taken April 26, 1855. Mr. H. B. Bailey describes them 

 as creamy-white, and pointed at one end; sizes i.44x 1.14, i-45x i.io. 

 These were deposited in a hollow tree on chips at the bottom. * Prof. 

 Ridgway describes the eggs of this bird as ovate, short ovate, or 

 rounded-ovate, pure white, and gives the average size as I-39X 1.07. 



[383.] Crotophaga ani LINN. [389.] 



Ani. 



Hab. West Indies; eastern South America, rare or casual in Florida and Louisiana; accidental near 

 Philadelphia. 



The Ani, Black Witch or Savanna Blackbird, so grotesque in ap- 

 pearance is only of rare or accidental occurrence in the United States, 

 as in Southern Florida, and in other regions as above cited. The bird 

 is from thirteen to fifteen inches long ; tail eight inches ; the bill is ex- 

 ceedingly compressed and smooth, or with a few traverse wrinkles on the 

 upper mandible ; the color of the plumage is black, with steel-blue 

 reflections. It is common throughout the West Indies and in North- 

 eastern South America. Observers state that several of these birds 

 will form sort of a community or colony to build an immense nest, 

 which is used in common. It is a large mass of interwoven twigs, 

 lined with leaves, and is built in trees or bushes, sometimes in marshes. 

 From five to fourteen eggs, or even more, are deposited by the several 

 birds. These are of a glaucous-blue in color, usually covered with a 

 light chalky crust. Their average size is i-38x i.oo. 



384. Crotophaga sulcirostris SWAINS. [390.] 



Grooved-billed Ani. 



Hab. Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas and Lower California southward to Peru. 



The Grooved-billed Ani was formerly only known from Yucatan, 

 Central and South America. Between the years 1865 and 1871 it was 

 discovered in Western Mexico, and finally added to the fauna of the 



*Bull. Nutt. Club., VIII, 40-41. 



