Birds. 18 L 5 



tinkling instantly yield the sacred neighbourhood, the brave mocking-bird pursuing a 

 group of three or four, even to several hundred yards distance ; and even the John- 

 crow, if he sail near the tree, is instantly attacked and driven from the scene. But 

 the hogs are the creatures that give him the most annoyance. They are ordinarily 

 fed upon the inferior oranges, the fruit being shaken down to them in the evenings; 

 hence they acquire the habit of resorting to the orange trees, to wait for a lucky wind- 

 fall. The mocking-bird, feeling nettled at the intrusion, flies down and begins to 

 peck the hog with all his might : Piggy, not understanding the matter, but pleased 

 with the titillation, gently lies down and turns up his broad side to enjoy it ; the poor 

 bird gets into an agony of distress, pecks and pecks again, but only increases the en- 

 joyment of the luxurious intruder, and is at last compelled to give up the effort in 

 despair." — p. 147. 



The Tinkling Grakle (Quiscalus crassirostris). — "Like the ani, the tinkling feeds 

 on the parasites of cattle. Walking among them, and mounting on their backs, they 

 pick off the ticks that so sadly infest the poor beasts, who, as if appreciating the ser- 

 vice, offer not the slightest molestation to their kind friends. I one day observed a 

 tinkling thus engaged in feeding her offspring. It was in the picturesque pasture of 

 Peter's Vale, where kine were numerous. Beneath the grateful shade of a spreading 

 mango, in the heat of the day, a cow was peacefully ruminating ; at her feet was the 

 old tinkling, walking round, and looking up at her with an intelligent eye. Presently, 

 she espied a tick upon the cow's belly, and, leaping up, seized it in her beak ; then 

 marching to her sable offspring, who stood looking on a few yards off, she proceeded 

 to deliver the savoury morsel into the throat of her son, who had gaped to the utmost 

 stretch of his throat in eager expectation, even before his mother was near him. This 

 done, she returned, and, again walking round, scrutinized the animal's body, but dis- 

 covering nothing more, flew up on the cow's back, and commenced an investigation 

 there. Just at this moment something alarmed her, and both mother and son flew to 

 a distant tree. It was at the same time, and in the same pasture, that I observed a 

 number of these birds collected in a large bastard cedar that overhung a shallow pool, 

 to which one and another were continually descending, and bathing with great appa- 

 rent enjoyment ; after which each flew to a sunny part of the tree, and fluttered and 

 pecked and ruffled its plumage, that it might dry smoothly and equally."' — p. 219. 

 * * * #• * * 



"The taking of places [on the cocoa-nut palms at roosting time] was attended 

 with much squabbling : the alighting of each new comer on a frond causing it to 

 swing, so as greatly to discompose the sitters already in possession, and throw them 

 off their balance ; and hence each was received by his fellows with open beaks and 

 raised wings, to prevent his landing. Still, many thrust themselves in among others, 

 pecking right and left in self-defence. The highest horizontal fronds were most in 

 demand, and many of these had, at the close, as many as ten or twelve birds each, sit- 

 ting side by side in a sable row. When once the birds had left the cotton tree, and 

 selected their places on the palms, they did not return ; but places were shifted con- 

 tinually. During the whole time their singular voices were in full cry, and could be 

 heard at a great distance ; some idea may be formed of the effect of the whole by ima- 

 gining two or three hundred small table bells, of varying tones, to be rung at the 

 same time. By half an hour after sunset the arrivals had pretty well ceased, and 

 most of the birds were quietly settled for the night. I visited them on one or two 

 subsequent evenings, but found no material difference in their proceedings." — p, 223, 



