parts 5 the edges of the quills and tail have a tinge of the fame :
the wings reach to the middle of the tail, which is wedge-fhaped,
five inches and a half long: the legs and claws are black; the
fatter very ftout and hooked.
There occurs in this bird a Angularity, which I have obferved
in no other, which is, the folding up of the-tail feathers, totally
different from birds in general; for, inftead of being a plain fur-
face at top, it finks into a hollow like a deep gutter. A good
idea may be formed by comparing it to an Hen’s tail, with the
under fide uppermoft.. This bird always carries its tail expanded,
when on the ground, folding it up in that Angular manner above
expreffed, only when perched or flying.
I have received feveral fpecimens of this from ’Jamaica; and m *0« * * 5
there are others in the Leverian Mufeum, all of which correfpond
with the account above given. The irides and notes are like
thofe of a Jackdaw. It feeds on maize, beetles, and other infedts.
Whether this be the bird meant by other, ornithologifts or not,
I am fcarcely clear about, as the Angularity of the tail could not
have efcaped them ■, but I am certain that Linruejis did obferve it,
and it is moft probable that he derived his trivial name * from
that ci'rcumftance. This author fays that it is fond of bananas-
This fpecies is likewife common in North America, keeping Pl a c i .
company with the flocks of thepurple Grakle, or next fpecies, and
red-winged Oriole. Thefe hreed in. the fwamps, and migrate in
September, after which, none are feen. This, bird,, and the iTroupiak
noir of Brijfon, are confounded together by Linnaus; but a moment’s
infpediion w i l l ’prove them different, the bird above de-
fcribed being four inches longer than Brijfiri& bird, which Buffon
* Barita, from a (hip or barge, which the tail not unaptly refemblesdefcribesr