ORDER PASSERES. 317 



The Beefeater is but one species, not much larger than 

 the crested lark, in bulk, but longer. It is found in Senegal, 

 and lives on insects, and particularly on the worms, or larvae, 

 found under the skin of oxen. These birds are often seen 

 perched on the backs of these animals, and other large qua- 

 drupeds, wounding the skin with their bills to get at the 

 worms. From this their name is derived. 



The Cassiques are birds which delight in woods, and do 

 not frequent the open country. They seek their food on 

 trees, bushes, and the ground. They walk with facility, and 

 do not migrate like some of the following divisions. Their 

 food is composed of worms, insects, berries, and grains, which 

 they swallow entire. In captivity every aliment suits them, 

 and they show much docility. They have an aptitude for 

 articulating words, imitating the cry of animals, and learning 

 tunes. Their nest is composed with art, and suspended to the 

 extremities of branches. Some prefer trees on the water's edge, 

 others deserted places covered with sallies. They lay three 

 or four eggs, and have several broods in the year, in all 

 seasons, like most birds which are sedentary in the torrid 

 zone. 



The Crested Oriole^ is a native of Cayenne, Brazil, and 

 Paraguay, where it generally receives the name of yapu. 

 When it is perched, it is in the habit of crying, with its 

 body stretched out, its head low, the wings open, and strongly 

 agitated. Its cry is very singular, and agreeably varied. 

 These birds nestle in common, on trees which are on the 

 borders of woods, suspending their nests to the extremity of 

 horizontal branches, at some considerable distance from the 

 trunk. The male and female both employ themselves in its 

 construction, interlacing it with strips of the bark of the 

 caraguata, with little rushes, and many black filaments re- 

 sembling the hairs of a horse's mane. They give it the form 

 of a purse, or long pouch, about thirty six inches in length. 



