24S



bright narcissus-yellow shoulder, the present species might be

regarded as having a brownish shoulder, but there is very little

brown in it, even in the dullest-coloured examples.


Unlike the Yellow-shouldered bird, the song of which (as

I have noted in my article on the species in the Feathered World,')

reminds one strongly of the sound made by working the handle

of an old iron pump—“ Chinker-on - king- tsch wee, ’ ’ the present

species has a distinctly pleasing song; not unlike that of a

Canary, as a Starling might be expected to sing it if taught; it

is a little more reedy in character than a Canary’s song, and has

a few somewhat harsh notes in it, but altogether I prefer it to the

performance of the finch.


I don’t know whether it is because my example has been

allowed to have his own way in everything, but he is certainly

not a polite bird; he not only cries for everything which he

fancies may be good to eat, uttering a peevish waa (with the

tune of the word ware less the r) but when he is offered the

dainty, he repeats the sound, as if he were abusing you for giving

it to him.


Since the bird came into my possession, he has distinctly

improved in glossiness of feather ; he bathes every day and takes

plenty of exercise : although he by no means dispises cock¬

roaches, he certainly prefers mealworms : when eating preserved

}mlk, he generally dabs it two or three times into banana to

soften it before swallowing it; orange appears to be his favourite

fruit, but a thin slice of apple is much relished.


I have given the name “ Flame-shouldered ” to this bird

because I can discover no other : it has never visited our Zoo,

but in Germany it was first imported in 1887, and was successfully

bred in 1S88. Russ calls it “ The Gregarious-Starling with fiery-

red wing coverts,” but that is too long for a trivial name and is

incorrect.


Gundlacli gives the following account of its wild life:—

“ Common, and lives less in the forests than in the borders of the

woods, and other places where there are trees. In the autumn

they unite into communities, which at that time make havoc of the

millet- and rice-fields. Later in the winter they seek their food

in the plantations, feeding in the pig-sties or the drying-traj^s

used for sugar. Also they search for nectar in the larger flowers

of trees. In the afternoon they assemble in considerable numbers

on lofty trees or bamboo cane to rest, and there each of these birds

from time to time exercises his monotonous voice, so that from

the multitude of these cries, a great but not unpleasing sound



