AMERICAN KEEL-BILL. 



381 



Indian islands. There appear to be two races or 

 varieties, agreeing in colour and general appear- 

 ance, but differing in size; the larger being nearly 

 of the size of a Magpie, and the smaller hardly ex- 

 ceeding that of a Blackbird. 



In their mode of life these birds resemble the 

 genus Buphaga, feeding principally on insects 

 which infest cattle, and particularly on those of 

 the genus Acarus ranking under the division 

 Ricinus or Tick, which in those regions are often 

 dreadfully injurious to the cattle : they also feed 

 on various kinds of lizards, worms, caterpillars, &c. 

 and, in defect of these, will often attack various 

 kinds of vegetables, and particularly maize and 

 rice. They generally frequent open places, and 

 are never observed in woods of any considerable 

 size. They usually fly in small flocks of twenty 

 or thirty together, and when on the ground or 

 perched, are always observed to carry their heads 

 drawn in, or close to the shoulders, sitting near 

 each other, and uttering a constant chattering cry, 

 somewhat in the manner of Starlings. They are 

 of a bold and fearless nature, and are scarcely 

 alarmed at the sound of fire-arms, and as they are 

 not numbered among edible birds, on account of 

 the rankness of their flesh, they may be said to 

 enjoy a kind of privileged security. Their wings 

 are short and their flight feeble, and, during a 

 storm, numbers are said to be destroyed. They 

 breed in March, and build in thick bushes, forming 

 a very large nest of interlaced twigs and grasses ; 

 lined with dried leaves. It is pretended that 



