THE EOSE-COLOURED OUZEL. 



555 



The Isle of Bourbon was at one time so infested with locusts 

 that it threatened to become uninhabitable. The idea was enter- 

 tained of introducing some Minos, and these birds multiplied so 

 fast that in a few years the pests had disappeared. Unfortunately, 

 the services of the Minos had to be paid for dearly, for they 

 showed a penchant for fruit, and made great havoc among the 

 cherries, mulberry trees, &c. When insects became scarce they 

 even attacked the cereals and other crops. 



Fig. 257. The Mino Bird (Grucula rvligiutsu. Linn.). 



These Passerines readily habituate themselves to confinement, 

 and in a short time become as tame as Starlings. Like these 

 birds, too, they possess the talent of remembering and repeating 

 words and various cries. They inhabit Africa, Asia, and Java. 

 In their migrations they sometimes visit the southern countries 

 of Europe ; but they are rarely seen in France. 



The HONEY-SUCKERS (Meliphagidce) are remarkable for having a 

 thin tuft of hair at the end of their tongue, and for the fleshy 

 pendants which adorn the beaks of some species. Their plumage 

 is in general brilliant, and ornamented with tufts or collars. 

 The voice of some kinds is very melodious, but little or nothing- 

 is known of their habits. 



We now come to the ROSE-COLOURED OUZEL, which is called in 

 France Merle Rose, because it combines the shape of the Blackbird 

 with a breast and back of a lovelv rose colour. 



