IOO



hay. It tlie lien is missed, and a nest is suspected, it is a mistake to search

for her, as the nest is generally so cleverly hidden beneath the grass that it

is almost impossible to detect it without disturbing the surroundings, and

very possibly causing the bird to forsake. Wait patiently until she appears

with her brood of wee chicks. Fresh ants’ cocoons, dug straight from the

ground with the whole nest, are the best food for the chicks at first: but

they' will soon pick up the small “ Indian” millet. They grow wonderfully

quickly. We reared about thirty from two pairs in 1900 . — Ed.]



ORIOLES.


Sir, —I have received a new bird, and would be grateful if you

could identify it for me. I am sending a sketch made by my wife, which

will give a nearer idea of it than any description. It comes I believe from

India, and appears to be an Oriole, I think a Kundoo. If so, I wonder if it is

a male, which I hope and am inclined to think it is, owing to the trace of a

dark marking round the eye. You will notice the irregular patching of

yellow 011 the back. It is very greedy, always gorging on bananas, and has

all the appearance and manners of a young bird, and prefers being fed from

the hand.


I understand all Orioles are streaked 011 the breast when young, and

I think the hens likewise have some streaks. Henry B. Rathborne.



The following reply was sent to Al>. Rathborne :


Mrs. Rathborne’s interesting painting, which accompanied your

letter, shews that your bird is unquestionably an immature Oriole; and, as

the black loral spot seems to extend round and behind the eye, it is very

likely', as you suggest, a Sykes’ Oriole, Oriolus kundoo, from India. But, if

the black should develop into a horse-shoe band round the back of the

head, it will probably be the Black-naped Oriole, Oriolus diffusus, from India,

China, etc. The yellow patches, as represented in the picture, are indi¬

cations of moult. I have kept the kindred species, the Golden Oriole, from

babyhood to the adult plumage; and, if O. kundoo passes through the same

stages, then your bird is in its second feather and about to moult into the

third.


I have been comparing your picture with an immature Black-naped

Oriole which I now possess; and it is curious to notice that, whereas the

dark markings on the bill of your bird and on that of the immature Golden

Oriole seem to be identical, the black on the bill of my Diffusus is arranged

quite differently. Moreover my bird, although not so forward as yours,

already' shews traces of the black horse-shoe band, which does not appear

in your drawing; all these things point almost conclusively'to your bird

being O. kundoo. I am not sure about the shade of y'ellow of the new

feathers on the back. If very bright, it is likely that your bird is a male.

The fully adult females do not, I think, have any' bieast streaks.


The streaks are signs of immaturity in most of the Orioles, but not in

all. For instance, the Australian Green Oriole, O. viridis, of which I have a

fine specimen, keeps its “ baby ” plumage all its life, and is, in this respect,

rather a scientific curiosity.



