. Cassell's book of birds . if a patch of cows dung be examined after Crotophaga have been searching for the larvag ofinsects, it will be found furrowed, as if a miniature plough Iiad passed through it. The name of 120 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. Crotophaga (Tick-eater) is no misnomer, as has been asserted by some who never saw the hving bird;ahnost every one in Jamaica is aware that the Savanna Blackbird feeds on the parasites of insects are, however, by no means the only prey of the Crotophaga. In December I haveseen little groups of them engaged in the evenings leaping up from
. Cassell's book of birds . if a patch of cows dung be examined after Crotophaga have been searching for the larvag ofinsects, it will be found furrowed, as if a miniature plough Iiad passed through it. The name of 120 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. Crotophaga (Tick-eater) is no misnomer, as has been asserted by some who never saw the hving bird;ahnost every one in Jamaica is aware that the Savanna Blackbird feeds on the parasites of insects are, however, by no means the only prey of the Crotophaga. In December I haveseen little groups of them engaged in the evenings leaping up from the pasture about a yard into theair, after flying insects, which they seemed to catch. Upon one occasion I saw that one of thesebirds had actually made prey of one of our little nimble lizards (Anolis). Though its usual mode ofprogression on the ground is by hopping, or rather bounding, the feet being lifted together, thislilackbird is seen to run in a headlong manner for a short distance, moving the feet alternately. He. THE ANI, OR SAVANNA BLACKBIRD {Crotopallga ani). 13 fond of basking in the morning sun, or in a low tree, with the wings expanded, remaining perfectlystill for a considerable time. In the heat of the day, in July and August, many may be seen in thelowland plains, sitting on the fences and logwood hedges, with their beaks wide open, as if gasping forair; at these times they forget their usual loquacity and wariness. Often two or three will perch inthe centre of a thick bush overhung with a matted drapery of convolvulus, whence they utter theirsingular cry, in a calling tone, as if they were playing at hide-and-seek, and requesting their fellowsto come and find them. The statement that this Blackbird builds in company, forming an immensenest of basket-work by the united labours of the flock, is universally maintained by the inhabitants ofthe colony. This nest is said to be usually placed in a high tree, where many parents bring forth andeducate a common family
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbreh, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds
