Hook Notices and Reviews. 95 



almost square, slightly rounded laterally. Bill wide at base, 

 tapering" to point; slightly hooked. A few rictal bristles. 



Soft-parts. — Bill dark pink (young ^ browner); legs and 

 feet dark slate; iris dark crimson (young ? dark brownj. 



Characters and allied forms. — In . o. kuiidoo (India. 

 Turkestan) male has patch of black behind eyes, primary-coverts 

 and tail feathers (except central pair) mostly yellow with only 

 bases black ; female has more yellow under parts, more yellow 

 on primary-coverts and tail, and greener secondaries and wing- 

 coverts. 



Field-characters. — Frequently uttered, loud and very 

 melodious whistle (" wiel-a-wo ") of male generally first 

 indication of presence; curious harsh growling" noises to be 

 heard at close quarters. Makes short flight, when disturbed, to 

 nearest tree, in which it disappears. Male very skulking", and 

 practically invisible in tree just coming" into leaf, but during" 

 flight bold black and golden-yellow plumage very conspicuous. 

 Females and young males look greenish and are hard to see. 

 (F.C.R.J.). 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds by preference in parks, old 

 wooded gardens and small plantations, building its remarkable 

 nest in angle of two horizontal boughs at various heights from 

 the ground. Nest. — Slung like a hammock, but attached firmly 

 to boughs on both, sides, built of grass stalks, sedges, strips of 

 bark, wool, etc., lined flowery grass-heads and frequently con- 

 taining" bits of paper woven into it. Eggs. — 4, sometimes 5, 

 very rarely six; white or creamy ground-colour, with a few 

 purpHsh-black spots, each with slight penumbra, and mostly 

 near big end. Average of 100 eggs, 30.8 x 21.3 m.m. 

 Breeding Season. — Generally late May or early June, rarely as 

 early as mid-May, but earlier in Spain. Incubation. — Lasts 

 about 14-15 days; male relieves female in middle of day 

 (Naumann). One brood. 



Food. — Insects in spring, but much fruit in autumn. 

 Coleoptera (especially cockchafers) and larvae of lepidoptera, 

 diptcra, orthoptera (grasshoppers), and hemiptera; also spiders 

 and small mollusca, cherries and mulberries, also currants, 

 grapes and figs. 



Distribution. — England and Wales. — Spring-visitor 

 (arriving end of April to mid-May). Annual in very small 

 numbers to south-east and south-west England- irregular 



