RAVENS. 2ig 



The Cassicans hold pretty much the same place in America as that occupied by the Crows in 

 European countries. In their habits they are lively and active, beautiful in appearance, and, though 

 essentially occupants of trees, resemble the Yellow Birds in many particulars, like them frequenting 

 fields of ripe corn, and doing considerable damage, without any apparent fear of the wrath of the 

 proprietors. When in the woods, insects and seeds constitute their principal fare, and they will 

 occasionally devour fruit. The voice of this species is not so pleasing as that of the Soffre, but it 

 possesses very great flexibility — indeed, Schomburghk tells us that it can not only imitate the note of 

 every other songster, but the cry of any animal, producing at times such a strange medley of sounds 

 as to astound its hearers, who scarcely believe it possible that a single bird can alternately bleat like 

 a sheep, crow like a cock, or scream like a turkey, all these various noises being accompanied by- 

 such extraordinary contortions of the whole body as cannot fail to excite laughter in those who 

 witness this strange performance. 



Scarcely less remarkable is the manner in which the Cassicans construct their nests. Like the 

 Weaver Bird, they build regular settlements, suspending their artistically woven cradles in large 

 numbers from the same tree, and very frequently in the immediate vicinity of other species. As 

 with the Weaver Bird, these nests are inhabited from year to year, and repaired every season for the 

 reception of a new family. In shape they are not unlike the large bags formerly used to carry shot, 

 and are so lightly constructed that their walls may be seen through. Great patience and skill are 

 exhibited in the manufacture of these abodes, some species only employing such materials as linen 

 thread, or fibres, while others build with fine blades of grass, which they moisten with saliva in order 

 to render them more pliable. Schomburghk tells us that this species is extraordinarily deficient in 

 social attachment, and mentions an instance of this fact witnessed by himself. A large party of 

 " Blackbirds " (Cassicans) had made their settlement upon the banks of a river which one day rose to 

 an unusual height, and threatened destruction to the entire colony. Some of the nests were washed 

 down, and others gradually filled with water. The terrified parents, unable to render any help to their 

 young, flew about in an agonised confusion, or sought for their eggs and nestlings amongst the general 

 debris, whilst such of the flock as were still above immediate danger sat quietly brooding, or continued 

 their building operations without paying the slightest attention to the piteous cries of their companions. 

 According to Audubon, these birds breed but once in the year, the nests being placed, as we have 

 described, quite close together, thus ensuring a safety from the attacks of their numerous enemies, 

 that could not otherwise be obtained ; each family, however, leads a life quite distinct from that of 

 its neighbours, and exhibits neither interest nor sympathy in the movements of those that live 

 around it. 



THE JAPU. 



The Japu, or Tufted Cassican (Cassiais cristatus), is an inhabitant of South America, and has 

 been selected for particular description as being one of the most remarkable species belonging to this 

 group. In this bird the plumage is principally of a brilliant black, with the lower portion of the body 

 of a deep reddish brown ; the exterior tail-feathers are yellow, and the inner ones black. The beak is 

 of a whitish yellow, the feet deep black, the eyes, like those of the rest of its congeners, light blue. 

 The length of the male varies from fifteen and a half to seventeen inches, its breadth is twenty-three 

 and a half inches, the wing measures from seven and two-third to eight inches, and the tail from six 

 to seven inches. The female is at least three inches shorter, and the wings six or seven inches less in 

 their span. 



We are indebted to the Prince von Wied for an exhaustive account of this species, from which 

 we shall extract such particulars as our space will permit. This remarkable bird, he tells us, inhabits 

 the whole of South America, but is most numerous in the northern portions, frequenting woodland 



