PERCHING-BIRDS. 133 
breed in colonies, the Ageleine and Quiscaline making cup-shaped nests, 
while the Jeterine and Cassicine build elaborate structures, which rival 
those of the Weavers. 
Family XXXVII. Oxrorip2. ORI0LES. 
The Orioles form a well-marked group of brightly coloured birds, 
mostly of a golden yellow contrasting with deep black. They are 
entirely confined to the Old World, and range from Africa, through 
Europe and Asia, to Australia, They are arboreal in their habits, and 
feed on fruits, especially cherries, and insects. The Golden Oriole 
(Oriolus galbula) (2705) is an annual spring migrant to the south of 
England, and, if unmolested, would breed there regularly. Its cradle- 
like nest is skilfully suspended in the fork of a branch, and the eggs 
are white, blotched with reddish-purple.  Oriolus traill (2712), with 
its crimson and black plumage, represents a differently coloured section 
of the genus, met with in Eastern Asia, and Sphecotheres (2710-1) is 
the representative form in Australia and New Guinea. 
Family XXXVIII. Dicrurm«. Droncos. 
These Crow-like Flycatchers form one of the best-defined families of 
Passeres, and range from Africa, India, and China through the Malayan 
Archipelago to ‘Australia. In nearly all the species the plumage 1S 
black and the tail strongly forked, especially in the species of Buchanga 
(2699), and in some forms, such as Dissemurus (2700) and Bhringa (2701), 
the outer tail-feathers are greatly prolonged, ending in a “ racket ” ; 
while others, such as Chibia (2695), have a long hairy crest of barbless 
plumes. They feed habitually on the wing, darting from some perch 
on a tree to catch passing insects. The Larger Racket-tailed Drongo 
(Dissemurus paradiseus ) (2700) of India has a really fine song, and is 
perhaps the best singing-bird in the Kast. The cup-shaped or cradle- 
like nest (2694 a) is placed in the fork of a tree, and the eggs are whitish 
marked with various shades of red. 
Family XXXIX. Evrycerotms., Mapacascar SrARLINGS. 
Euryceros prevostt (2693), a native of Madagascar, is the sole repre- 
sentative of this family, and is remarkable on account of its abnormally 
deep and stout bill. 
Family XL. Eutasnrips. TREE-STARLINGS. 
The Starlings included im this family differ from the true Starlings 
(Sturnide) in being strictly arboreal in their habits, in being provided 
[Case 82.] 
Case 82. ] 
[Case 82.] 
[Case 83. | 
