332 



Passekks.- 



-mRDS.- 



-Tl'rdid.e. 



flit to aiiutlRT. The iiost is a large donjuil structure 

 of dried sticks, witli tlie entrance at one side. 



THE SPOTTED GROUND THRUSH {Cindosoma 

 piinctatunt), another Anstrahan species, is found ordy 

 in the eastern part of New Holkmd, and in Van 

 Dienien's Land. Its favourite haunts are stony hills 

 and rocky gullies, wliere it nnis about with great 

 rapi^iit}', its power of fliglit being very small. In 

 Ilobart Town, where it is highly esteemed for the 

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

 tills bird consists of seeds and caterpillars. Its nest is 

 slightly constructed of leaves and the bark of trees ; it 

 is placed on tlie ground under the slielter of a stone or 

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

 colour, with olive-brown blotches. 



THE GOLDEN ORIOLE {Onoltis ga!hula)—Rg. Ill- 

 is a common bird in tlie 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 liorizontal forked branch of a tree, 



F.g. 111. 





The Golden Oi-iole (Oiiulus galbula). 



ar.d composed of long grass and wool, carefully and 

 ingeniously interwoven. The eggs are generally 

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

 with a few gray and reddish spots. Tlie Golden 

 Oriole is rather more than nine inches in length. 

 Tiio general colour of the plumage in the male is 



bright yellow, with the wings and tail black, mure 

 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 (Pijcnonoiiis hcmor- 

 rho'ds), one of the most abundant of Indian birds, is of 

 atrownish colour above, with the head and tail black, 

 and whitish beneath, with the vent red. Tlie head 

 exhibits the apj^jarance 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 princi])ally 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- 

 liatants seizi.ig 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 [Piiciionotm jocosus), a species 



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



[ndia, 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 of 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 cany 



it about with tliL-m to their bazaars and 



other places of resort. 



THE CAYENNE ANT-THRUSH (Formi- 

 ciiritis cayancnsis). 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 

 tlieir nourishment. The Cayenne Ant-thrubh 

 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 (G')(///o!-/(ii?»'.(), 

 another South American species, has the tarsi 

 li.inger 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, wdiere it runs upon 

 the ground and destroys great quantities of 

 white ants. It is generally seen solitary, ami 

 rarely perches on trees. 

 THE BENGAL PITTA {Pitta hevgahnsls) 

 Of the species of the gi-oup of Ant-thrushes inhabiting 

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

 are abundant in the Kast 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 



