54 Practicat^ Bird-Kerping. 



which form pensile purse-like open net-work nests swung from 

 the branches of tall trees or rarely large bushes overhanging 

 water ; but the Black Cassique {Cassidix oryzivora) is parasitic, 

 laying its eggs in the nests of other species ; the last-mentioned 

 bird feeds in its wild state upon seeds and insects, but the purse- 

 builders are all fruit and insect eaters and should be treated like 

 the typical Hangnests in captivity. 



The Hangnests i^IcterijicB) construct pensile long, openly 

 woven, purse-like nests which are suspended from the branches 

 of trees or bushes ; their food consists of fruit, insects, spiders 

 and worms; and in captivity soft food, fruit and an occasional 

 insect will keep them in perfect health and plumage, until even- 

 tually they die from sheer old age. These are the most confiding, 

 clever and attractive in every respect of all the New World 

 Starlings, and, provided that one could obtain both sexes, there 

 seems not the least reason why they should not be bred in an 

 outdoor aviary without difficulty. The sexes are easily distin- 

 guished, even where the plumage does not differ, owing to the 

 very marked difference in the length of the bills of male and 

 female. 



It is dangerous to associate the species of Ictetus with 

 other birds, as they have very strong and pointed bills and are 

 aggressive. When kept in a cage it is not safe to bring one's 

 face too close to the wirework ; for these birds, like all Starlings, 

 are attracted by anything bright and miglit stab one's eyes ; 

 children should therefore be cautioned not to go too near. 



The Old World Starlings hitherto imported belong to the 

 Subfamily Sturiihice and, as already stated, mostly nest in holes, 

 in trees, rocks, or buildings; but the Glossy Starlings of the 

 genus Calornis construct pensile nests after the manner of the 

 Icterine species and lay spotted eggs like many of those birds (as 

 well as other Glossy Starlings) for which reason I regard them as 

 probably the nearest allies to the New World family. 



The species of Caloniis feed upon seeds, other vegetable 

 matter and probably insects ; the African Gloss}^ Starlings also 

 feed upon fruits, berries, seeds, insects, and of course spiders. 

 In captivity, therefore, these birds should be treated like the 

 Icterine Starlings. The typical Starlings {Slurnus) and the Star- 



