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 beef. 



I found the tracheal muscles of this bird large 

 and globose. 



FAM. STURNDm (The 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. versicolor, before I was aware that Mr. 

 Swainson had described it in " Two centenaries 

 and a quarter," p. 355. 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 18J, flexure 6, tail 5^, rictus 1-^, 

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

 i inch from cloaca. Irides cream-white. 



