The Croiv Tribe. 49 



kept sometimes as cage birds, and a few are brought 

 to England. The BALTIMORE ORIOLE (Icteros Bal- 

 timorensis or Hyphantes B.), a Troopial, is a common 

 cage bird both in America and Germany. It is a 

 handsome bird, black and orange, and has a pleasant 

 voice, but is chiefly interesting from its curious hang- 

 ing bottle-nest, made of fibres, grass, etc. ; and it will 

 weave in any threads of cotton or silk that may come 

 in its way, most artistically. It lives chiefly on insects, 

 but is very fond of fruit. 



The BOBOLINK or AMERICAN RICE BIRD (Dolich- 

 onyx oryzivorus) is so disliked in its native country, 

 because of the damage it does to the fields of young 

 corn, that its beauty and attractive qualities, as well 

 as its services in destroying insects, are overlooked. 

 It is a pleasant cage-bird, has a very pretty song, and 

 is lively and active. It must have insect food, ants' 

 eggs, mealworms, and fruit, in addition to seed. Of 

 course it would eat rice and corn also. Of late years, 

 several of the beautiful GLOSSY STARLINGS have been 

 brought to England, and are found to do well in con- 

 finement : their beauty of plumage and great intelli- 

 gence make them great favourites ; but they must be 

 kept in separate cages, or in pairs in large aviaries, as 

 they would be murderous to other birds; they are too 

 active and noisy for a room. They feed on grubs and 

 insects of all kinds, seeds, and fruit, and require a little 

 chopped meat occasionally. 



4, 



