THE PUKPLE GHAKLE. 473 



' Tbe Kestbel {Tinnwneulus alaudarius) ia also in the habit of 

 laying its eggs in the nests of other birds, and may possibly eject 

 the rightful owner by main force. This opinion is rendered pro- 

 bable by a fact mentioned by Mr. Peachey, in the " Zoologist." 

 A man was passing a tree, and hearing a loud screaming proceed- 

 ing &om a nest at the summit, he had the curiosity to climb the 

 tree. The screams still continued, and on putting his hand into 

 the nest, he found two birds struggling, the uppermost of which 

 he caught. This proved to be a Kestrel, and as soon as it was 

 secured, the other bird, which was a magpie, flew out, evidently 

 having been worsted by its antagonist. 



Then .there is the weE-known Stabling (Siumus vulgaris), 

 which is a notably parasitic bird, delighting to take the nests of 

 the jackdaw, pigeon, and other birds, and to use them as its 

 own. Every one who has a dovecote knows how apt are the 

 Starlings to Usurp the boxes intended for the pigeons, and how 

 in Consequence it is accused of killing the young of the pigeons, 

 and sucking their eggs, two accusations which I believe to b& 

 wholly false. Were the Starlings to be thus predaceoiis, the 

 pigeons would be quite aware of their depredations, and would 

 appear greatly disturbed whenever the robbers were seen. As, 

 however, the pigeons in one box live in perfect amity with the 

 Starlings in the next, it is very imlikely that the latter birds 

 prey in any way upon the former. 



Theee is a group of birds which are popularly called Grakles, 

 and are scientifically known as Quiscalinae. They are also called 

 Boat-tails, because their tail-feathers are formed so as to take the 

 shape of a canoe. One species, the Purple Grakle, or Ceow-- 

 Blaokbird {jQuiscalus versicolor); is conspicuous as a parasitic 

 bird, and selects a most extraordinary spot for its nest. 



Generally, the predaceous birds are avoided and feared by 

 the rest of the feathered tribes, and if a hawk or eagle show 

 itself, the smaller birds either hide themselves, or try to drive 

 away the intruder by force of numbers or swiftness of wing. The 

 Purple Grakle, however, is devoid of such fears, at all events as 

 far as one species of predaceous bird is concerned, and boldly 

 takes up its abode with the osprey or fish-hawk {Pandion 

 haliaetus). 



The nest of the osprey is a very large edifice, made of sticks. 



