Starlings. 421 



their food with a layer of a quarter of an inch of fresh garden-mould, I made the old birds 

 work for every morsel they carried to their ever-hungry young brood, and the tempting food 

 was thus withdrawn from being constantly before their eyes. In this way I have repeatedly 

 reared Malabar Mynahs, which have not, so far as I know, been bred anywhere else, and other 

 Starlings could probably be reared as successfully. 



RED-SHOULDERED STARLING {Agdaus phankeus), North America. 



Sturnus phceniceus (Russ), Oriohis fhcenicsiis, Icterus phcenicens, PsarocoHus phceniceus, Stitrnus pradatoriut, 



English dealers' name — Red-shouldered Starling. German name — "Epauletten Star." 



A black bird, about the size of our European Starling, ornamented on the shoulders with 

 a bright scarlet patch, bordered with yellow. When the bird is at rest but very little of 

 this scarlet shoulder-patch is visible, but with outspread wings the bird is very beautiful. 

 The female of this Starling is dark brown on the back, greyish-brown underneath. 



Immense flocks of Red-shouldered Starlings appear in the Northern- States of America 

 in spring, and sometimes damage the corn-fields considerably. When the birds are paired 

 they withdraw to swampy or marshy districts, and build their nests among reeds ; at the end 

 of the breeding season old and young birds re-assemble and roam over the fields in flights. 

 For food see general remarks on Starlings. 



Of another family of Starlings, the Trupials — Icterus — only two need be mentioned here 

 although Brehm describes no less than twenty-three varieties, all natives of North and South 

 America. The Trupials are called Hang-nests, because they suspend their artfully-v/oven nests 

 from the branches of trees. Their food consists of insects and fruit in about equal parts, and 

 oranges they are very fond of. In the cage they may be kept on oranges and other fruit, 

 soft-food mixture, and a few mealworms or other insects. They will endure for years, pleasing 

 their owner by the brightness of their plumage and the quaintness of their song. Their intel- 

 ligence is equal to that of our European Starling. 



BALTIMORE HANG-NEST (Ictei-us Baltimo'-e), North America. 



Sturnus Baltimorensis (Russ), Oriobis Baltimoi'e, Yphantes Baltimore, Psarocolius Baltimore, English dealer^' name — 



Yellow Trupial, or Baltimore Oriole. German name— "Baltimore Trupial." 



The Baltimore Hang-nest, Trupial, or Oriole is somewhat smaller than a European 

 Starling. The head, wings, and upper part of the back are black, the lower body and 

 lower back bright reddish-orange ; a white bar ornaments the wings. Most scientific writers 

 have erroneously described the plumage of young birds, believing them to be females, whilst 

 Mr. C. W. Gedney, of Bromley, had the best possible proof of the female being identical in 

 colour and markings with the male, for he obtained eggs, and thereby the sex of his birds 

 was placed beyond controversy. North America, including the eastern part of Canada, is the 

 Baltimore Oriole's breeding-place ; with the approach of autumn he migrates south as far as 

 Central America. - 



BRAZILIAN HANG-NEST (Icterus Jamacnii), Brazil. 



Siumtis yamaicensis (Russ), Oriolus Jxmacaii, Oriolus aurantins, Pendulinus Janiaicensis, Piarocolins Jamaicensis, Icterus 



aurantius, Xatithornns aiirantius. English dealers' name — Jamaica Oriole. German name — "Jamaica Trupial." 



The Brazilian or Jamaica Oriole is considerably larger than the Baltimore Hang-nest, and' 

 rather larger than a common European Starling. Like the Baltimore, his head and wings 



