on the Black Cassique.



183



oryzivora taken out of the nests of Cassicus persicus, and stated

that his collector had seen females of the former entering

nests of the latter, and that one of these when shot and opened

contained in its oviduct a mature egg.


I11 “Timehri,” vol. X., u.s. p. 37 (vide “Ibis” 1897) there

is an article entitled “Queer Homes” by Mr. C. A. Lloyd, in

■which he appears not quite to understand the parasitic habit, for

he says that Cassidix oryzivora seems never to build a home of

her own, but contents herself with making use of the deserted

Bunyah nests in which to lay her curiously marked eggs. By the

wa}^ T. K. Salmon (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1879, p. 510) describes the

eggs as “ wdiite ” : he sent home two eggs differing remarkably

in size, the smaller one being presumably that of the owner of

the nest. I11 vol. XI. of Timehri Mr. Barshall confirms the

parasitic habit of the species.


In its wild state the Black Cassique feeds upon all kinds

of insects in various stages, as well as ticks and other pests which

annoy different domesticated beasts ; also certain cereals, rice,

maize, etc. Moreover, according to Mangelsdorff, it is often

caught by the Brazilians, who let it have the run of the house,

after the manner of a Jackdaw, and then it accepts all varieties

of human food. Then again we are told by Mr. Goodfellow that

he frequently shot the species in banana-plantations, where it

was feeding upon the ripe fruit. Thus it is perfectly evident

that in captivity this bird ought to do well upon the usual food

supplied to Hangnests, Tanagers, and many other insectivorous

birds.


It would seem that, after the manner of the Cowbirds, the

young desert their foster-parents and join flocks of their own

species soon after they leave the nest; since Natterer speaks of

coming across flocks in a maize plantation at Camara in January

accompanied by young already fledged. A. G. B.



