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Dr. A. G. Butler,



those of the Egrets, but it gets persecuted to a certain extent,

not only on account of these but also because certain natives

hold its flesh in high esteem. So very tame is the bird that in

many parts of India it has received tlie name of “blind heron ”

and indeed at times is almost trodden on, so loath is it to take

wing. The paddy bird breeds like all Herons in colonies, from

May to September, and lays from four to six greenish blue eggs.



THE BLACK CASS1QUE.*


Cassidix oryzivora.


This somewhat Crow-like Starling was mentioned in the

Magazine some years ago by Mr. R. Phillipps under its Dutch

name of “ Zwarte Kivispaal." It has been called the “Great

Black Rice-Bird”; in Ecuador Mr. Goodfellow tells us these

birds are called “ Garapateros ” (tick-eaters) from the fact doubt¬

less that they often settle upon swine to search for ticks, as

recorded by MangelsdorfF. At Para the name “Grauna” seems

to be given, and at Rio Janeiro “ Mairo.” I do not know the

translations of these names.


The most interesting fact with regard to this species is

that it builds no nest, but lays its eggs in the nests of other

Icterine birds, such as Ostinops decumanus and O. crisiatus,

Cassinis persicus and C. affiiiis : but, although parasitic, it is not

destructive after the manner of the Cowbirds ( Molothrus ) but is

satisfied for its young to take their chance with the young of the

foster-parents.


This curious phase of parasitism was first discovered by

Dr. Goeldi, who published an account of it in his “ Aves da

Brazil,” p. 284 ; and subsequently, when on a visit to Para he was

informed that it had the same habit there.


Dr. Goeldi’s book being regarded by systematists as an

unscientific publication, his discovery was, to all intents and

purposes, shelved, until in 1896 Herr Kuschel communicated a

note to the “Ibis” to the effect that he possessed eggs of C.



Or should it be “Cacique” as the Americans spell it? In England we adopt the

phonetic spelling for this word !



