150 



black, the latter yellow for their terminal half, forming a large alar speculum ; 

 upper wing coverts yellow ; first primary black ; the others black, tipped with 

 yellow, which increases in extent towards the secondaries, the innermost oi 

 which have the entire outer web yellow ; base of primaries yellow ; tail yellow, 

 the two central feathers with a broad subterminal bar of black ; the next on 

 either side with a patch of black. 



The female is not unlike the male, but the yellow is less bright and has an 

 olivaceous or a greenish tinge. The young is duller in colour everywhere, the 

 forehead is streaked with black, the feathers of the crown and nape edged with 

 yellowish ; throat white, streaked with black. Bill lake red j irides rich red ; 

 legs plumbeous. 



Length of adult male and female 9-5 to 10 inches; wing 5*4 to 5*55 ; tail 

 3 4 to 4 ; tarsus r to 1*05 ; culmen ri5 to 1*3. 



Hal. Throughout the Peninsula of India, extending down the Malay Penin- 

 sula. Occurs throughout Burmah and Ceylon; also in Cochin- China and 

 Siam. It is found in the Punjab, N.-W. Provinces, Bengal, Rajpootana, Cen- 

 tral India, the Concan, Deccan, South India, the Malabar Coast, the Carnatic, 

 Pegu, Tennaserim, British Burmah, the Andamans and Nepaul. I do not 

 follow Sharpe in separating O. ceylonensis, either as a distinct species of 

 or sub-species, nor Captain Legge in calling the larger form 0. hima- 

 lay anus. Mr. Sharpe (Cat. B. Br. Mus.) observes, that 0. ceylonensis 

 " although rather smaller than Himalayan examples, the alar speculum 

 is larger than in the Cingalese form, and he looks upon it as intermediate 

 between the continental and insular birds. O. ceylonensis is not at all 

 a good species, and perhaps in a large series would be found to be insepar- 

 able, which it certainly is from O. melanocephalus." 



The black-headed Oriole affects both the densest forests and open jungles, 

 also orchards and gardens. Oates says, its exquisite call of five whistling 

 notes is one of the most charming sounds heard in the jungle, and it seems to 

 be uttered at all hours of the day and almost all the year round. It nests 

 from March to June, generally at a considerable height from the ground. 

 The nest is suspended between two twigs, and in shape is like a cup. The 

 materials used are leaves, fine twigs and vegetable fibres. Eggs 2 3, pinkish 

 white, spotted with black. It feeds chiefly on fruit. Jerdon says, the figs of 

 the Banian, peepul and other Fici\ also mulberry, blossoms, and buds. 



156. Oriolus trailli, Vig. P. z. S., 1831, P . 175 ; jerd. B. Ind. ii. 



p. 1 12, No. 474 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. iii. p. 222 ; Hume, Str. F. viii. 

 p. 99 ; Scully, Sir. F. v. p. 299. Psaropholus trailli, Jerd. and Selby, III. 

 Orn. iv. pi. 2O ; Ely. and Walden, B. Burm. p. 139. The MAROON ORIOLE. 



Whole head, neck, chin, throat and wings glossy black ; rest of the plum- 

 age maroon-red. 



