COLLECTION OF BIRDS. 



service it performed in the Isle of France, in de- 

 stroying the grasshoppers. Near the grakles are 

 the orioles, which have a beautiful yellow plu- 

 mage, and the different species of which are 

 distinguished by the variety of tints on a small 

 portion of the body. The French oriole con- 

 structs its nest very skilfully, suspending it from 

 the extremities of the largest branches of trees. 



The first shelf of the nineteenth case contains 

 a genus established by M. Cuvier, under the name 

 of philedon. The species, each of which pos- 

 sesses some remarkable singularity, are united by 

 one common character, that of having the tongue 

 terminated with a brush of hairs. The caruncu- 

 lated philedon (coi vus paradoxus, Lath.) has two 

 fleshy caruncles, which hang under its throat ; the 

 cravat philedon (merops Novce Hollandice , Brown) 

 has two small bunches of curled feathers, the 

 whiteness of which forms a strong contrast to the 

 green of the body. The monk philedon (mej^ops 

 monachus, Lath.), and the philedon corbicalao, 

 which, as well as the two preceding, are natives 

 of New Holland, have a tubercle on the beak, 

 and during life the naked parts of the head and 

 neck are of a fine blue. 



Below the philedons we find the motacilla> y 

 a very numerous family, characterized by a 

 straight slender beak, and comprehending the 



