332 



PASSER* 



-BIRDS. TURDID.E. 



flit to another. The nest is a large domed structure 

 of dried sticks, with the entrance at one side. 



THE SPOTTED GROUND THRUSH (Cinclosoma 

 punctatum), another Australian species, is found only 

 in the eastern part of New Holland, and in Van 

 Diemen's Land. Its favourite haunts are stony hills 

 and rocky gullies, where it runs about with great 

 rapidity, its power of flight being very small. In 

 Hobart Town, where it is highly esteemed for the 

 table, it is known as the Ground Dove. The food of 

 this bird consists of seeds and caterpillars. Its nest is 

 slightly constructed of leaves and the bark of trees ; it 

 is placed on the ground under the shelter of a stone or 

 tuft of grass, and contains two or three eggs of a white 

 colour, with olive-brown blotches. 



THE GOLDEN OEIOLE (Oriolus gdbula} fig. Ill 

 is a common bird in the southern parts of the Euro- 

 pean continent, where, however, it is a summer visitor, 

 and specimens occasionally find their way into Britain. 

 It frequents secluded woods and the borders of forests, 

 living sociably in small parties, and feeding partly 

 upon caterpillars and other insects, and partly 

 upon fruits. The nest is cup-shaped and rather flat, 

 placed upon the horizontal forked branch of a tree, 



Fig. 111. 



The Golden Oriole (Oriolus galbula). 



and composed of long grass and wool, carefully and 

 ingeniously interwoven. The eggs are generally 

 four or five in number, of a purplish white colour, 

 with a few gray and reddish spots. The Golden 

 Oriole is rather more than nine inches in length. 

 The general colour of the plumage in the male is 



bright yellow, with the wings and tail black, more 

 or less variegated with yellow, and with a dark streak 

 running from the bill to the eye ; the female is olive- 

 coloured above, grayish-white beneath, with the wings 

 and tail brown. 



THE RED-VENTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus hcemor- 

 rJioiis), one of the most abundant of Indian birds, is of 

 a brownish colour above, with the head and tail black, 

 and whitish beneath, with the vent red. The head 

 exhibits the appearance of being crested. This bird is 

 found either in pairs or in small flocks in gardens, 

 fields, and jungle, but always in open parts of the 

 latter ; it feeds principally on fruits and insects, and is 

 occasionally destructive to peas in gardens. It is often 

 kept in confinement for the purpose of fighting, for 

 which it exhibits considerable aptitude ; the com- 

 batants seizing each other by the red feathers of the 

 vent, and endeavour to pull them out. When caged 

 it is said to imitate the notes of other birds. 



THE JOCOSE BULBUL (Pycnonotus jocosus), a species 

 nearly allied to the preceding, and like it a native of 

 India, is a sprightly bird, which is found both in woods 

 and gardens. It is active and lively, always on the 

 move, and warbling its pleasant chirping notes, 

 which are far sweeter than those pf the 

 preceding species. The food of this species 

 consists chiefly of fruits and seeds, but it also 

 eats insects. It is a favourite with the Hindoos, 

 who train it to sit upon the hand, and carry 

 it about with them to their bazaars and 

 other places of resort. 



THE CAYENNE ANT-THRUSH (Formi- 

 carius cayanensis). This bird is an example 

 of a peculiar group of Thrushes inhabiting 

 the tropical regions of both hemispheres, 

 which are especially organised for a terrestrial 

 existence, having the wings and tail short, 

 and the tarsi long and well-developed. They 

 are called Ant-thrushes from their fondness 

 for ants, which, with other insects, constitute 

 their nourishment. The Cayenne Ant-thrush 

 measures about eight inches in length ; it is 

 of an ash colour above, and whitish beneath, 

 with the wings black. It dwells principally 

 on the ground, where it busily turns over 

 the dead leaves in search of insects, and runs 

 with great ease. 



THE KING ANT-THRUSH (GrallariaRex), 

 another South American species, has the tarsi 

 longer than in the preceding, so that some of 

 the older writers seem to have hesitated 

 whether to regard it as a gallinaceous bird. 

 It inhabits the forests, where it runs upon 

 the ground and destroys great quantities of 

 white ants. It is generally seen solitary, and 

 rarely perches on trees. 



THE BENGAL PITTA (Pitta lengalensis). 

 Of the species of the group of Ant-thrushes inhabiting 

 the Old World, those of the genus Pitta, some of which 

 are abundant in the East Indies, are distinguished by 

 the beauty of their plumage. The Bengal Pitta is 

 green above, yellow beneath, with the head and neck 

 black, streaked with white and orange, and the quill 



