ORDER PASSERES. 547 



these countries. These birds assemble on dunghills, and such 

 other places, where they find either the larvse of insects, or 

 perfect insects, especially locusts. They also perch on the 

 backs of cattle, to feed on the parasitic insects which infest 

 them. In default of insects, they attack seeds and fruits. 



The Common Martin {Paradise Grakle of Lath., Cassy- 

 phus Tristis, Dum., Paradlsea Tristis, and Gracula Tristis, 

 Gm. and Lath.,) is the species whose manners have been most 

 studied. Besides hunting flies, scarabaei, &c., it seeks the 

 vermin from the backs of horses, oxen, and pigs, which will- 

 ingly submit to the operations of their liberators, until they 

 begin to infringe upon the skin ; then these carnivorous birds, 

 which accommodate themselves to all kinds of nutriment, will 

 commence to peck the living flesh. 



The discharge of fowling-pieces will scarcely drive away the 

 martins, which assemble at the close of day on the trees which 

 are near habitations, and chatter there in a very troublesome 

 manner, though their song is naturally sufiiciently varied and 

 agreeable. In the morning they disperse through the country 

 in groups, or by pairs, according to the season. They have 

 two young broods every year, usually composed of four eggs, 

 in nests of a rude construction, which they attach to the leaves 

 of the palm tree, or other trees, and which they even some- 

 times place in granaries, when they can find the means. Their 

 attachment for their young is so great, that they will pursue 

 their ravisher, striking with the beak, and uttering piercing cries. 

 If they should discover the place where their young ones are 

 situated, they will enter there for the purpose of feeding them. 



The young martins are tamed without difficulty ; they are 

 easily taught to speak, and when kept in a barn-yard, learn of 

 themselves to counterfeit the cries of hens, cocks, geese, sheep, 

 and other domestic animals. They even accompany their 

 imitations with accents and motions full of grace and gaiety, 

 and which contrast not a little with the epithet tristis, so un- 

 accountably bestowed upon them. It cannot even he derived 



