THE MTNOR GKAKLE. 117 



which has hatched it, they may still be inclined to regard the 

 bird as the very personification of ingratitude, like the stony- 

 hearted daughters of King Lear ; whether or no, all must agree 

 with LYDYATE, that 



"Between the Cuckoo and the Nightingale 



There is a manner of strange difference." 



And yet, according to LISLE BOWLES, this bird, of all the songsters 

 of the woods and fields, is the only really scientific performer ; his 

 notes being the fifth and third of the diatonic scale, and therefore 

 strictly in accordance with musical numbers. WORDSWORTH'S 

 beautiful lines on the Cuckoo, and the pleasing ode by LOGAN, 

 have been too often quoted to need a repetition here. 



FOREIGN BIRDS. 



20. THE MINOR GRAKLE. 



Graccula Religiosa, LIN. Mainate, BUF. Der Mino oder Plunderer, BECH. 



Description. This bird, about the size of a Blackbird, is ten 

 inches and a half in length. It's beak is one inch and a half long, 

 curved, knife-shaped, naked at the root, and orange coloured, 

 tipped with light yellow. The feet are orange ; the nostrils 

 longitudinal, and situate in the middle of the beak ; the iris 

 nut-brown. The feathers on the side of the head are short, 

 like the nap of velvet, except in the middle towards the back. 

 On each side a naked membrane extends from the eye to the 

 back of the head, but is not there united This is of unequal 

 breadth, broadest at the corner of the eyes. It is yellow, a 

 colour which at specific seasons of the year, or when the bird 

 is pleased or angry, is changeable. The prevailing hue of 

 the plumage is black, tinged with purple, violet, and green, 

 according to the light in which it is viewed. A white stripe 

 runs across the pen feathers. The tail, which is three inches in 

 length, is straight. 



Observations. The Minor Grakle is found in Jamaica, in 

 various parts of the East Indies, and in the islands beyond the 

 Ganges, as far as Java. Its food is vegetable ; and the birds 

 which are brought to Europe are very fond of cherries and 

 grapes. If a cherry be shewn to them and not immediately 

 given, they will cry and weep like a child. They seem ex- 

 ceedingly tame and affectionate ; whistle and sing admirably ; 

 and chatter better than any Parrot. In Chinese aviaries they are 

 very common, being brought from Java. In inland Germany, 

 this bird is rarely to be found. 



