156 CANARIES AND CAGE-BIRDS. 



THE TROOPIAL. 



THIS handsomely colored songster is the best known of South-American song- 

 birds, and is one of the greatest favorites of the bird family. As soon as he 

 becomes an inmate of a household, he installs himself as one of its settled members. 

 This he easily does ; because his quaint, comical tricks are as amusing as his rich, 

 full, mellow notes are pleasing. 



He belongs to the family of Starlings, a tribe of funny fellows, whose members 

 number more than one hundred, and have dwelling-places in many of the countries 

 of the globe. He has the richest natural song of any of his species, but his power 

 of mimicry is rather inferior to that of some of his cousins. He becomes so tame 

 and playful, that a lover of his once said, ik He is the cheapest bird to buy, because 

 he requires no cage. I would as soon think of my pet dog flying away as South- 

 American Bill." 



Troopials are sometimes called Hang-Nests in South America, because they 

 suspend their artfully woven nests from the branches of trees. These nests are very 

 cleverly constructed, and display a weaver's intelligence in their manufacture. 

 They are made of a material like hemp or flax, and are woven into a fabric not 

 unlike coarse cloth. The nest is very singular in formation, and somewhat resem- 

 bles a large pistol hung from the branch of a tree by the butt : the entrance is at the 

 muzzle, and the nest in the butt. The entrance to the nest is at the side, probably 

 for the protection of the young birds from the attacks of snakes, which are con- 

 stantly on the watch for them. The parent Troopials will fearlessly attack snakes, 

 and compel them to sneak away : this they are abundantly able to do, as they are 

 plucky, powerful birds for their size ; and the long, strong, sharp-pointed beak forms 

 a most desirable weapon. 



The Troopial measures about eight inches in length, and is a powerfully built 

 bird, with very strongly made legs and claws. The plumage of the male, when full 

 grown, is very brilliant. The head, wings, and upper part of the back, are velvet} 7 

 black. The lower back and body vary in color from a bright orange to a hand- 

 some shade of lemon. A white streak through the wing serves as an additional 

 ornament. The tail is orange and black. The female Troopial has a dull brown- 

 ish color in place of the brilliant black in the male. The beak is long and pointed, 

 and black in color. 



The Troopial, although not so gracefully built and as sprightly in movement as 

 some of his gorgeous-plumed companions of the South-American forests, is, withal, 

 a beautiful bird. He inhabits the tropical forests of South and Central America, 

 and lives luxuriously on the abundance of fruit and insects which are easily found 



