G R A K L E; 4^1. 



parts ; the edges of the quills and tail have a tinge of the fame: 

 the wings reach to the middle of the tail, which is wedge- fhaped, 

 five inches and a half long : the legs and claws are black j the 

 latter very flout and hooked. 



There occurs in this bird a Angularity, which I have obferved 

 in no other, which is, the folding up of the tail, feathers, totally 

 different from birds in general ; for, inftead of being a pkin fur- 

 face at top, it finks into a hollow like a deep gutter. A good 

 idea may be formed by comparing it to an Hen's tail, with the 

 under fide uppermofL This bird always carries its tail expanded, 

 when on the ground, folding it up in that fingular manner above 

 expreffed, only when perched or flying. 



I have received feveral fpecimens of this from Jamaica ; and m^^^J* 



c J • Manners. 



there are others in the Leverian Mufeum, all of which correfpond 

 with the account above given. The irides and notes are like 

 thofe of a Jackdaw. It feeds on maize, beetles, and other infects. 



"Whether this be the bird, meant by other ornithologifts or not, 

 I am fcarcely clear about, as the Angularity of the tail could not 

 have efcaped them ; but I am certain that Linnaus did obferve it, 

 and it is moft probable that he derived his trivial name * from 

 that circumftance. This author fays that it is fond of bananas. 



This fpecies is likewife common in North America, keeping 

 company with the flocks of the ■purple Grakle, or next fpecies, and 

 red-winged Oriole. Thefe breed in. the fwamps, and migrate in 

 September, after which none are feen. This bird, and the Troupiale 

 noir of Briffon, are confounded together by Linnaus ; but a mo- 

 ment's inflection will prove them different, the bird above de- 

 fcribed being four inches longer than Brijfon's bird, which Buffon 



* Rarita., from |3«jis a fhip or barge s which the tail not unaptly refemb'es, 



defcribes;- 



Place; 



