CUCUUD.E — THE CUCKOOS. 489 



Tt is conunon tlironsliniit tlio West Indies, and in South America as far south 

 as lirazil. Gosse states it to be one of tiio most abundant birds of Jamaica- 

 In speaiving of its breeding liabits he mentions that it was universally main- 

 tained by tiic inhabitants that these birds unite and build in company an 

 iuTinense nest of basket-worlv, made by tlie innted labors of the flock. Tiiis 

 is said to be placed on a liigli tree, where many parents bring forth and edu- 

 cate a common family. This statement is reiterated by Mr. Hill, who says 

 that a small flock of about si.\ individuals build but one large and capacious 

 nest, to which tliey resort in common, and rear their young together. 



In duly Mr. (Josse found the nest of one of these birds in a i/iirzuma 

 tree. It was a large mass of interwoven twigs, and was lined with leaves. 

 There were eight eggs in the nest, and the shells of many others were scat- 

 tered beneath the tree. 



^Ir. Newton foumi these birds very common in St. Croix. He mentions 

 meeting with a nest of this species June 17. It was about five feet from 

 the ground, on a large tamarind-tree. He speaks of it as a rude collection 

 of sticks and twigs, large and deep, partly filled with dry leaves, among 

 which were fourteen eggs, and around the margin were stuck upri'dit a few 

 dead twigs of tamarind. Fi\e days afterwards he went to the nest, where he 

 found but nine eggs, two of which he took. Three days later he found but 

 four eggs in the nest, it having been robbed in the interim ; but six days 

 afterwards the number had again been increased to eight. He never found 

 the eggs covered up as if intentionally done. The nest was evidently com- 

 mon property. There were generally two or three birds sitting close to or 

 on it, and up in the tree perhaps four or five more, who woidd continue 

 screeching all the time he was there. Mr. Newton adds that when the egg 

 is fresh the cretaceous deposit on tlio shell is very soft and easily scored, 

 but it soon hardens. It is mentioned in De Sagra's list as one of the com- 

 mon birds of Cuba. 



Mr. J. F. Hamilton, in his interesting paper (Ibis, July, 1871) on the 

 birds of Brazil, mentions finding this species very common at Santo Paulo. 

 There was scarcely an ojien ])iece of ground where there were but few bushes 

 that had not its flock of these birds. They were especially fond of marshy 

 ground. They were also often to be seen running about among a herd of 

 cattle, picking \\\i the insects disturbed by the animals. They seemed utter- 

 ly regardless of danger, and woulil scarcely do more than flit from one l)ush 

 to another, eve.i .vlien the numbei-s of their flock were being greatly thinned. 

 When concealed in the long grass, they would allow themselves to be almost 

 trodden on before rising. The Brazilians seldom molest them, as their flesh 

 is not good to eat. 



This bird is known as the Black Witch in St. Croix, — a name Mr. Newton 

 sup])oses to be due to its peculiar call-note, which sounds like qvc-ifurh. Its 

 familiar liabits and its gwte.sque appearance m.ake it universally known. It 

 is a favorite object of attack to the Chickaree Flycatcher, in which encoun- 



vui.. II. 02 



