ani. 337 



The female does not differ externally from the male. 



This is no doubt the Chattering Crow, or Cacao Walk, of Sloane 

 and Dampier, and is common in Jamaica. The latter voyager met 

 with them in Brazil, under the name of Mackeraw. Said to be 

 common also in Paraguay, but not to reach 28 degrees of South 

 latitude. — These birds likewise inhabit Saint Domingo, and other 

 Islands of the West Indies, and we believe Cayenne, and most other 

 parts of South America : are known at Berbice, by the name of 

 Hoeje. They have the singularity of many laying in the same nest,* 

 to make which, they all unite in concert, and after depositing their 

 eggs, sit close to each other in order to hatch them ; and it is further 

 said, that when the young come forth, the parents, without distinction, 

 do the best to feed the whole flock ; the nest is of course sometimes of 

 a large size, composed of dry twigs, lined with leaves ; and it is 

 observed, that when the sitting birds leave the nest, they cover the 

 eggs with leaves, to continue the warmth during their absence ; for 

 the most part they have two broods in a year, and even three, in case 

 of accident to the former ones. 



The eggs are about the size of those of a Pigeon, sea-green, 

 spotted at the ends, but for the most part appear whitish at first 

 sight, being covered with a film or crust of that colour.f The food 

 consists of worms, insects, fruits, and grain, and they will frequently 

 perch on the backs of beasts, to pick off the ticks. Both this and 

 the following species have the same manners, and are gregarious, 

 being seen from ten to twenty in a flock, whether in breeding time 

 or not; are not difficult to be shot, being less wild than many other 

 birds, but chatter incessantly at the sight of a man, although they 

 do not fly to a great distance ; in this instance, like the Jay, are the 



* lis pondent et couvent jusqu'a cinquante ensemble dans le meme Nid, Bris. 



f M. d'Azara remarks, that this outer crust is easily removed by the point of a knife, 

 and that the children and others make pretty designs, like engravings, thereon, the green 

 colour appearing beneath. 



vol II. X x 



