on two Uncommon Birds.



183



Our fellow member, Mr. H. D. Astley, possessed this

species, ana in 190S one chick was hatched out but unfortunately

not reared (see Vol. V T L, New Series p. 297).


One may often observe on these birds, when descending

from a high perch or rising up to the same again, the beautiful

carmine of the under wing coverts and flights, and also for a

brief spell at the moment of alighting, their regal garb is then

noticed in all its beauty.


The body colouring is green, with bronze shades on the

wing ; lower throat, shoulders and breast beautiful pea-green ;

iris of the eye dark red, eye lids red ; beak yellow, short and

curved.


This species is indeed exquisite with its beautiful soft

blends of green relieved by a reddish crest reaching down the

neck, and lightly'' tipped on top with white, also the greyish

white face, and the carmine red of the under wing coverts and

flights.


My birds, four in number, came over in pairs; the first

pair having been with me now about three months. It was

entirely due to Miss Ivens, another member of our Society, that

I was fortunate enough to secure them. They seem very hard}’,

thriving on a mixture of ordinary soft food with plenty of small

pieces of banana and apple with occasional other fruits, though

oranges I have been warned against as being too acid. Previous

to their coming into my possession they were fed largely on

Peros, a Portugese fruit, half pear, half apple, these I am unable

to get, but find they like bananas and grapes better.


At present, my birds are in a large cage till the Spring,

when I hope to turn them out with an idea of their breeding.


The Maroon Oriole (Oriolus trailli).


The family Oriolidcc are ail beautiful and striking birds,

very pugnacious, in particular with each other, and not to be

trusted with birds smaller than themselves.


They are bold and fearless, but do not readily become

steady in a cage, though there is a good deal of individualism in

this respect; and so far the Maroons are the most confiding of

any I have kept.


The Maroon Oriole has but seldom been imported, and it



