THE ANI. 7 



specimens in the United States National Museum collection, taken within the 

 limits of the United States — one from the Dry Tortugas by Mr. J. Wurdeman, 

 on June 24, 1857; the other by Mr. G. A. Boardman, from Charlotte Harbor, 

 Florida. 



A small flock of five of these birds was seen in July, 1893, at Diamond, 

 Louisiana, opposite Point la Hache, and one of these was shot. This is now in 

 the possession of Mr. George E. Beyer, who considers the Ani a regular summer 

 resident in that locality. 



The Ani is most commonly found at altitudes below 1,000 feet and rarely 

 above 3,000. One of its principal call notes, according to Mr. John S. Northrop, 

 who observed this species on Andros Island, one of the Bahamas, is "wee-eep," 

 the second syllable uttered in a much higher key than the first ; another- common 

 call sounds, like "que-yu." When perched on trees they are said to sit very 

 close together in rows, and being good-natured social birds, they are rarely 

 seen alone. 



The most complete account of the general habits of the Ani is that of Mr. 

 Charles B. Taylor, Rae Town, Kingston, Jamaica, in "The Auk" (Vol. IX, 1892, 

 pp. 369-371). 



" The Ani appears to be abundant in all parts of the island. It is one of 

 the commonest birds near Kingston, and in most open or sparsely wooded lands 

 or in the vicinity of cultivated clearings little groups or companies may nearly 

 always be seen. Blackbirds are invariably present wherever cattle are pastured. 

 I can not recollect an instance in which I have noted a herd of cows at pasture 

 without a flock of these birds appearing in company with them or in their 

 immediate vicinity. This association is, doubtless, chiefly for the purpose of 

 feeding on the ticks and other parasites on the animals, a good -wprk largely 

 shared by the Grackles {Quiscalus crassirostris). It is most interesting to watch 

 a company of Blackbirds when thus engaged. Many are perched on the backs 

 of the cattle (two or three sometimes on one cow); others are on the ground, 

 hopping about fearlessly among the grazing herd, searching for insects at the 

 roots of the herbage, or capturing those disturbed by the feet of the cattle. At 

 this time one or more individuals are stationed on some tree close by, from 

 which they now and again call to those in the open with that remarkable cry, 

 variously syllabicated by some, but which I have at times thoiight strangely 

 like the wailing of a young cat. Insects of all orders and their larvae, ticks, 

 grubs, etc., form their chief food. Occasionally, perhaps, a few small lizards 

 are taken, and, I believe, the eggs of other birds, as I once found in the stomach 

 of a female portions of an egg, apparently that of some siuflll bird. Gosse 

 records having seen these birds eating the ripe berries of the fiddle wood, biit I 

 have not noticed them at any time eating vegetable food. 



"The Blackbirds at their best have a very lean and shabby appearance, and 

 are slow and awkward in their movements. I have watched an individual make 

 several ineffectual attempts to alight on the frond of a cocoanut palm ; but even 

 among the branches of other trees their actions appear awkward. Their flight 



