seemed  to  be  ‘  an  understanding  between  them  and  the  cattle  whereby 
they  are  assisted  and  encouraged  to  destroy  the  ticks.’  He  appeals 
also  for  their  preservation.  There  is  no  need,  however  to  appeal  to 
the  pen  keepers  or  the  planters  for  the  protection  of  these  birds,  as 
everywhere  the  people  are  unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  the 
services  which  these  birds  render  in  destroying  ticks  are  incalculable. 
The  observations  which  were  made  in  regard  to  the  tick-eating 
propensities  of  these  two  species  of  birds  fully  confirm  the  statements 
given  by  former  writers  and  the  pen  keepers,  though  it  would  seem 
that  the  'Tinkling  Crackle’  (Q.  crassirostris)  feeds  much  more 
extensively  upon  them  than  the  ‘  Parrot-billed  Blackbird  ’  {C.  ani) ; 
this  assumption  is  based  both  upon  observations  in  the  field  and  upon 
post-mortem  examinations,  the  results  of  which  are  given  below. 
Savanah  Blackbird  or  ‘Tinkling  Crackle’ 
Quiscalus  crassirostris 
(Plate  XIV,  fig.  2.) 
This  common  species  was  observed  usually  in  small  companies,  and 
seems  to  be  generally  gregarious,  though  odd  specimens  were  noticed 
in  many  places.  It  was  seen  in  considerable  numbers  in  the  parishes 
of  Manchester,  St.  Elizabeth,  Hanover,  Westmoreland  and  St.  James. 
In  all  of  these  places  its  tick-feeding  habits  were  observed  ;  and  in 
one  instance  nearly  every  individual  member  of  a  flock  was  seen 
picking  off  the  ticks  from  cattle  which  were  browsing  together  under 
the  shade-trees  in  the  pastures.  These  birds  will  also  follow  cattle 
when  driven  into  the  pens,  and,  if  undisturbed,  will  remove  the  ticks 
and  eat  them  with  apparent  avidity,  this  habit  being  particularly 
noticeable  in  the  mornings  and  evenings.  They  are  remarkably 
fearless  of  man,  and  if  alarmed  generally  fly  into  the  adjacent  trees 
to  return  again  when  unmolested  or  when  hunger  presses  them  to 
do  so. 
Judging  by  the  few  post-mortem  examinations  which  were  made, 
their  food  consists  chiefly  of  insects  and  ticks ;  though  they  feed  to 
a  certain  extent  upon  seeds,  and  are  said  also  to  feed  freely  upon 
tangerine  and  sweet  oranges  (Montpellier  and  St.  Thomas).  The 
