16 
Limatræ, der var overgroet med Mistler og stod, omtrent 15 
Fod fra Døren paa en Plantage-Negers Huus. 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 han 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 
Quiste 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 tilbøjelig 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 October (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 description went to say 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. I 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 sticks, with the more pliable portions 
placed inside, but was totally destitute of any soft substance as a 
lining. 
”) I. c. »Another nest was discovered towards the end of the same month, 
constructed in a similar manner, but placed on this occasion on a pretty 
high tree, also covered with a creeping vine; this being left undisturbed 
five eggs were laid, from which two young birds were produced. From 
what I have observed in these two instances I am inclined to believe 
that the report of their uniting in the construction of the nest and their 
hatching in concert is erroneous, but I shall endeavour ere long to 
procure more information when I shall again address you«. 
