STARLINGS, CROWS, LARKS, WOODPECKERS, ETC. -jii 



The Golden 

 Oriole. 



Family Oriolid.e. Tliis family (iilTors from 

 the Crows not only in gaudy coloration, but in 

 having a notch in the njiper mandilile. 



The Golden Oriole, Oriolus (jidbuhi (Linn.), is 

 the only species of this family which has any 

 claim to a place in the British list, 

 and that only as a rare summer 

 migrant to England and Ireland, 

 occasionally crossing from the Continent. It 

 is one of the handsomest birds that visit us, 

 being of a bright lemon-yellow with black 

 wings, as are also the two middle feathers and 

 the base of its tail. Though it has not much 

 natural song, its very handsome plumage 

 accords it a very prominent position in the 

 aviary, or it may- be kept in a cage of box 

 pattern not less than 4 feet long, 2 feet high, 

 and 12 or 14 inches deep, with two perches 

 wide apart so that the bird can take a good 

 hop from one to the other. It should have 

 free access to the bath and be fed and treated 

 in I'he manner recommended for the Blackcap, 

 always providing a supply of juicy fruits, such 

 as orange, grapes, ripe pear, or banana. 



Family Corvid.e. — In this family, and 

 especially in its sub-section, the Perching birds, 

 Conirostres. we find such great variety and high 

 development as to rank them first in typical form 

 among the " Birds." We can, however, only refer 

 to those which concern the scope of this work. 



The Chough, Pyrrhocora.r graciiliis (Dresser), 



IS commonly called the Cornish Chough owing 



^ _,. , to it at one time largely 



The Chough. , ,, ,.„ , „ 



favouring the cliffs of Corn- 

 wall. It is resident, breeding on the rocky 

 coasts of the British Isles, and more rarely than 

 formerly in some few inland situations. It is 

 also a migrant and a clitT and mountain dweller 

 on both sides of the Mediterranean. It is a 

 large, handsome bird, 15 inches in length, with 

 a wing measurement of 12 inches. In colour 

 it is jet black with the exception of its bright- 

 red legs and bill, which latter is long and Ihin. 

 The plumage is covered with a beautiful gloss, 

 and the sexes are alike. The Chough is kept as 

 a pet and for exhibition purposes, and becomes 

 very tame. It requires a very large living-cage 

 of the box pattern. 4 to 5 feet in length, 3 feet 

 high, and 2 feet deep, with two perches similar 

 in thickness to those used for Parrot cages. The 

 show-cage should be of the same pattern and 

 at least 2 feet long. 20 inches high, and 18 inches 

 deep, with two perches similar to those in the 

 living-cage : the inside should be creamy white, 

 and the outside black. The essential points for 

 exhibition are size, rich lustrous colour, and 

 perfect condition, to which free use of the bath 

 with good feeding conduces. Choughs should be 

 fed on an insectivorous food, similar to that 

 recommended for the ^lissel Thrush, with boiled 



bullock's liver and heart minced up fine ; also 

 a little finely minced raw beef added two or 

 three times a week, and especially a few days 

 before going to an exhibition. Shellfish chopped 

 u]) fine should occasionally be given wilh the 

 food. 



The Jay, (jarrulus (/Idndurius (Mac(/.), is a 

 resident and migrant in all well-wooded districts 

 of the British Isles, rarer in 

 The Jay. Scotland and the North of Ire- 



land, and occurring throughout the greater part 

 of Europe. It is a remarkably handsome bird, 

 the delicate light fawn-colour of its vinaceous- 

 tinted general plumage contrasting most effec- 

 tively with the bright blue-black and white 

 bars on the dark wings ; the forehead is whitish, 

 and it and the crown are streaked with black : 

 the head-feathers are long and capable of being 

 elevated as a crest ; the throat is white, and 

 the under-body of the same colour as the back, 

 but paler, shading to pure white on the under 

 tail-coverts ; the rump and upper tail-coverts 

 are also of the same pure tint, and the tail black. 

 This bird is about 13 inches long, and the sexes 

 are alike. It builds in the thickest parts of 

 woods, in the fork of a tree, or on the top of a 

 bush, and after the young have left the nest 

 they generally accompany the parent birds, 

 living in bands, and then the eggs and young 

 of other birds often fall victims to their voracious 

 appetite. On account of this the Jay usually 

 gets short shrift from gamekeepers, while its 

 beautiful blue feathers are also much sought 

 after as artificial llies for anglers. Owing to 

 this continued destruction. Jays are decreasing 

 in number, .\part from its predatory food, 

 the Jay's diet consists of acorns, fruits, beech- 

 mast, worms, cockchafers, and other insects, 

 as well as mice, frogs, and small reptiles. 



It is of an inquisitive and garrulous dispo- 

 sition, and its true note is decidedly harsh ; 

 but it has great powers of mimicry, and may be 

 taught to imitate a variety of sounds, and even 

 learn to talk slightly. Jays are easily hand- 

 reared on the same food as Thrushes, but should 

 be given a more liberal supply of grubs and 

 meal and earthworms. The cages for living and 

 exhibition should be similar to those advised 

 for the Chough, and the adult Jay does well on 

 the same food with the addition of tit-bits from 

 its bill of fare when wild. It is very fond of a 

 bath. Bich colours, perfect plumage, and 

 steadiness are essential exhibition points. 



The Magpie, Pica rusiica (Dresser), is gener- 

 ally resident throughout the British Isles, 

 though more plentiful in some 

 The Magpie, p.^^.^^ ^,^3,^ others. It is also 

 found throughout Europe, Asia to China, and 

 in North America. It is a woodland species, 

 building in the topmost branches of trees, and 



