82 NESTS AND hGGS OF AUSTKALIAN BIRDS. 



Gould did not find the Oriole in South Australia; but on the evidence 

 of Mr. \V. \Vhit« that Statu may be included in its habitat. 



Once in the Echuca district I heard a bird as early as the first week in 

 Julv, but heard none again till 1st August. It is possible that duruig 

 winter the birds do not altogether leave that district. In the Somei'\'ille 

 district (Victoria) they have been noticed up till the middle of April, 

 showing a partiality for figs. 



During the winter Dr. Ramsay, on the Sydney .side, found them in 

 small flocks feeding on various cultivated and wild fiiiits. He observed 

 that towards the beginning of September they pair and seek breeding 

 places, each couple selecting a distinct locality, where they remain during 

 the whole season ; even if their nest is taken they will continue building 

 near the same place until the season expires. 



From my own field notes I find in Victoria I have taken nests — 



" October (1870?). — Glen Iris, two eggs, with egg of Pallid Cuckoo." 



" 18th October, 1880. — Philhp Island, nest, three eggs." 



" 4th December, 1886. — Doncaster, nest, two eggs, half incubated." 



" 20th November, 1897. — In company with Mr. G. E. Shepherd, 

 SomerviUe, three eggs." 



The three fonner nests were placed in somewhat exposed situations. 



In two instances (seasons 1860 and 1861 respectively) Dr. Ramsay 

 records fincUng Orioles' nests with clutches of foiu- eggs. 



The Oriole is one of the foster-parents of the PalUd Cuckoo. 

 Mr. S. W. Jackson, of Grafton, New South Wales, found the egg of the 

 Koel or Flinders Cuckoo under very interesting circumstances in an Oriole's 

 nest on 31st October, 1894. 



Breeding months September to January. 



In his " Bush Wanderings of a Naturalist," Mr. H. W. Wheelwright 

 vn-ote : — "One of the sweetest sounds of the forest, to my ear, was the 

 loud monotonous note of the Green Thrush (Oriole) from the topmost 

 branches of a high gimi-tree, on one of those clear delicious mornings so 

 pecuhar to the Australian spring. Although not to be compared to 

 the rich and varied song of the British Tlu-ush, there is a gush of melody 

 in the song of the Australian bird equal to any of our finest songsters ; 

 and as I often and often stood at my tent door about sunrise and hstened 

 to its wild desultory carol, borne upon the early breeze, laden with fragrance 

 of many a thousand blossoms, I have thought how didl and senseless must 

 that blockhead have been who described Australia as a land where the 

 flowers have no scent and the birds no song." 



61. — SpHECOTHERES M.\xiLLAKis, Latham. (286) 



FIG BIRD. 



F(^«n\ — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol. vol. iv., pi. 15, 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iii . p. 224. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Fitzgerald : Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. 

 Wales, vol. ii. ,2nd ser., p. 970 {1S87) ; North ; Austn. Mus. Cat., 

 pi, II, fig. II, (i88g). also Rec. Austn. Mus., vol. i. p. 113 (1891). 



Geoyrapliiral Disfributiun. — Northern Territory (?), Queensland, and 

 New South Wales. 



