for) 
to 
THE BIRDS OF THE MADHUBANI SUBDIVISION. 9 
(40) O. kuNDoo.—The Indian Oriole. 
Oates, No. 518; Hume, No. 470. 
Only aseasonal visitant here, The first arrival was noted on the 20th 
March, and it leaves in November. It breeds from the end of April to 
the first week in July, All nests taken were situated in either mango or 
sissoo trees with one exception which was built in a fork of a jack (A. 
integrifolia) tree. They were from 10 to 30 ft. from the ground, The nests 
have far more grass stems about them tl:an those of O, melanocephalus, and are 
not, in my opinion, nearly so neat as those of this species. I have never 
found more than three eggs in any nest, sometimes there only being a single 
young one. I have also taken a fresh egg and two incubated ones out of 
the same nest, I once saw a female koel (Z. honorata) robbing a nest of this 
species ; before my arrival she had already disposed of one egg,and the 
oriole was flying round her screaming vociferously. I finished the robbery 
as, had the eggs been left, the koel would probably have disposed of them 
also,and they were much safer in my keeping. An oriole was seen one 
evening flying over some waiter, its tail.feathers being now and then partially 
immersed in the same. I could not make out whether it was drinking or pick- 
ing insects off the surface. 
(41) O. MELANOCEPHALUS,—The Indian Black-headed Oriole, 
Oates, No, 521; Hume, No. 472. 
Very common, Permanent resident, breeding from March to August. In 
the latter month, however, all nests contain young. The nests taken were 
invariably situated on mango trees from 12 to 30 ft. from the ground, I 
have never got more than three eggs from a nest; one contained a single 
highly incubated egg, The eggs of this species are smaller than those of 
the last species,and are, I think, more elongate, The following are the 
colours of the soft parts of a nestling yet in down :—Bill, rosy pink, pale 
plumbeous at tip ; iris, light brown ; legs, pale plumbeous ; claws, pink. 
Family Sturnide. 
(42) Pastor roseus.—The Rose-coloured Starling, 
Oates, No. 528; Hume, No, 690. 
A very rare bird in this district. Ihave only a single specimen, a male 
shot in some thorn jungle on the 14th December, It was the only one of 
its species, and was feeding in company with S. conira and WM. bengalensis. 
Another was seen at the same place on the Ist March in company with a 
pair of S, menabieri. Mr. G, Dalgliesh shot one, in the latter month, out of 
a small flock which were with some mynahs in a carrot field at Dalsing 
Sarai. | 
(43) STURNUS MENZBIERI—The Common Indian Starling. 
Oates, No. 532 ; Hume, No. 681, 
A common cold weather visitant. It arrives in October and leaves in 
March, 
