BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. II9 
head, neck, breast, and upper part of the back with metallic ■ bronze 
borders; iris, brown. Female, similar. 
Length 13.25, wing 6, tail 8, tarsus 1.25, bill 1.20. 
The Ani, or Blackbird, as it is sometimes called by the inhabit- 
ants, is a very abundant resident in the Bahamas. Its habits much 
resemble those of our common Grackle. They are generally 
observed in flocks, feeding in the fields or perched upon the 
branches of a bush, uttering from time to time a curious, but not 
unmusical whistle. They appear to eat almost anything that comes 
in their way, insects of various kinds, beetles, berries, or fruits being 
equally acceptable. 
Incubation commences about the 1st of December, and we pro- 
cured specimens of fully fledged young birds in January. It is 
probable that they rear two broods in a season, as Mr. Gosse found 
a nest containing eggs in July. He says, “ In July I found a Black- 
bird’s nest in a bastard cedar ; it was a rather large mass of inter- 
woven twigs, lined with leaves. Eight eggs were in the nest, and 
the shells of many more were also in it and scattered beneath the 
tree. The eggs were about as large as a pullet’s, very regularly oval, 
of a greenish blue, but covered with a coating of white chalky sub- 
stance, which was much scratched and eroded on them all, and 
which was displaced with a little force.” 
Although very abundant around Nassau, they become quite 
scarce on many of the more southern islands, and it is considered 
a rare bird at Inagua. 
Bd. Bwr. and Ridg., Vol. II. 
