92 SOCIAL HABITATIONS. 
how in consequence it is accused of killing the young of 
the pigeons, and sucking their eggs, two accusations which 
I believe to be wholly false. Were the Starlings to be 
thus predaceous, 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 unlikely that the latter birds prey in any way 
upon the former. 
There is a group of birds which are popularly called 
Grakles, and are scientifically known as Quiscaline. 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 Crow-BLACKBIRD, 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. 
The nest of the osprey is a very large edifice, made 
of sticks, grass, seaweed, leaves, and similar materials. 
The foundations are made by sticks almost as thick as 
broom-handles, and some two or three feet in length, 
on which are piled smaller sticks, until a heap some 
four or five feet in height is made. Interwoven with 
the sticks are stalks of corn and various herbs, the larger 
seaweeds and large pieces of grass, the whole mass being 
a good load for an ordinary cart, and as much as a horse 
