556 BIRDS OF BRITISH GUIANA. 



a Woodpecker give an unnsually lond call — as it sometimes does— 

 this bird follows with a similar sound at once. The bleating 

 of sheep is imitated equally well. But should there be a 

 cessation oi: noises among the birds and mammals then this bird 

 starts his own song again — until perchance a duck on some neigh- 

 bouring water sounds forth its well-known quack quack, which is 

 also echoed from the tree in which the Yellow-backed Cacique 

 (^Casslcus persicus) was sitting much to every one's surprise. 

 During all these performances the bird turns, and twists its head 

 and body into the most comical attitudes that one cannot keep 

 from laughing. 



Cassicus persicus and C. hccmorrlioris breed nearly always in the 

 same tree and are very friendly to each other. The imitating 

 habits appear to cease with the latter as soon as the breeding- 

 season is over. The two species separate into flocks when the 

 nesting period is at an end. 



Schombiirgk states (Reis. Guian. iii. p. G81) that this species is 

 gregarious during the breeding-season, which is April and May. 

 The " Warraus " call it Komiana and the " Macusis " 7aiiriipia. 



The following note is quoted from Mr. Barrington Brown (Canoe 

 and Camp Life, p. 354) : — "The Yellow-backed Mocking-bird. 

 Around and almost touching the habitation of the wasps are the 

 long hanging nests of these birds, in and out of wdiich, during the 

 breeding-season, their owners go with impunity. The wasps, by 

 their presence, no doubt, protect the young and eggs of the bird 

 from the attacks of inonkeys, but what service the bird is to the 

 insect is not so easily understood. 



■ " It seems strange that the wasps should tolerate the presence 

 of such busy, noisy, chattering neighbours." 



Mr. Queleh (Timehri (2) ii. p. 375), writing on birds from the 

 Albany River, remarks : — " Early next morning we left the 

 Tauraculi district, obtaining on the way two Lapwings at the 

 same swamp where we had procured the one two days before, 

 besides a very fine specimen of the Yellow-backed Mocking-bird 

 (^Cassicus j:)erslcus).^^ 



Mr. Lloyd Price (Timehri (2) v. p. 62), writing on the Nests and 

 Eggs of some Guiana Birds, remarks : — "The Black and yellow 

 so-called Mocking-Bird (Cassicus persicus) also builds a nest of 

 tbe same shajx^ and materials, but consiilerably shorter. It is 



