176 
GRACKLE. 
Head of Gracula Keligiosa. 
and like our Eooks and Crows, are suspected of doing mis- 
chief, by picking out the new-sown grain ; but as we shall 
soon see when we come to treat of our crows, the charge is a 
good deal exaggerated. 
It happened some years ago, that one of the French 
islands, in the East Indies, was overrun with locusts, to such 
a degree, that there was every appearance of the crops 
suffering severely. The governor, a sensible and observing 
man, and well acquainted 
with the habits of the Gracr 
kies, imported a number of 
them from the Continent, 
as they never bred upon, 
or visited the island. The 
consequence was, that the 
locusts rapidly diminished 
in number ; but the people, 
seeing the birds busied in 
thrusting their hills into 
the new-sown fields, fancied they could be only occupied in 
picking out the grain, and accordingly they made war upon 
the poor Crackles, and destroyed them all, and forthwith the 
locusts reappeared in full force. The fact is, the Grackles, 
like our Eooks and Crows, are great destroyers of grubs and 
insects, though at the same time it cannot be denied, that 
they may occasionally commit partial depredations on the 
farmer’s property. 
Some birds of the Grackle genus have a singular appendage 
to the head, composed of a naked skin or wattle, which 
gives them a very odd appearance, as shown in the above 
figure. 
Of the Paradise-birds we know but little, for they are 
almost entirely confined to New Guinea, and a few neigh- 
bouring islands in the Indian seas, inhabited by wild tribes, 
with whom travellers have but little communication. These 
people catch the Paradise-birds and dry their skins, which 
they barter with ships passing along the coast. It was for 
a long time believed, by ignorant persons, that they had 
