Private Importation of Itidian Birds, 191 6. 33 



Himalayan or Red-billed Choughs {Graculiis ere- 

 tnita, Linn.). Six of these were shipped, but "unfortunately not 

 one arrived alive. I was informed by the ship's steward 

 that the extreme heat prevailing at the time was the cause of 

 death. Both the European and Indian birds are considered 

 to be identical though differing materially in size — therefore 

 descriptive notes are uncalled for. 



Maroon Orioles {OrioLus tralllii). Four of this 

 species were shipped, all in the young plumage, so that it 

 was impossible to be absolutely certain of their sex. There 

 were three survivors of these, and two, believed to be a pair, 

 are now in the possession of one of our members, and will 

 I trust do well with him. 



The adult male has the plumage mostly glistening 

 maroon-red ; the head, neck, and wings are glossy black. 



It ranges the Himalayas up to 7,000 or 8,000 feet, 

 but is a rare species and very locally distributed. 



The nest of this Oriole is of the usual Oriole-type, and 

 the eggs resemble those of O. kundoo. 



In captivity, I found it to do well on insectile mix- 

 ture, milk sop and fruit, and will take as many insects as one 

 is disposed to supply. I have kept it in a smallish aviary 

 (13 ft. X 10 ft. with a shelter 8 ft. X8ft.) together with 

 Bank Mynahs. Babblers, and Hill Mynahs, and all lived har- 

 moniously together. 



Indian Oriole {Oriolus kundoo, Sykes). Only one 

 young bird was sent, and this had evidently had its wing 

 broken when captured; it was very tame but unable to fly, 

 and, though living for several months, practically no develop- 

 ment took place and it ultimately succumbed — it was out of 

 doors (August) when death took place. They are most at- 

 tractive and beautiful birds, but must be associated only with 

 birds as strong and agressive as themselves, and the amiable 

 demeanour of Ian isolated, odd bird cannot qualify the above, 

 as in the breeding .season I should consider them as possibly 

 dangerous to birds even larger than themselves, 



