riG-BiEDS 409 



The Northern Oriole, 0. affinis, is smaller, and has a shorter 

 wing and much larger bill. (Gould). It overlaps 0. viridis in 

 New South Wales, and extends to Cape York. 



Joins with the Regent, Satin Bower-birds, Cat-birds, 

 Zosterops, and Magpies in feasting on the fruits of the orchards 

 and of the native fig-trees. On the other hand it also destroys 

 insects. The note is very melodious and varied, and the power 

 of imitating all the other birds which keep it company is most 

 striking. The Oriole and the Lyre-bird are the great Australian 

 mimics, genuine rivals of the Mocking Bird of America. The 

 nest is cup-shaped, lined with grass and hair or wool, and 

 suspended to pendent branches. The eggs, two to four, white or 

 cream, minutely dotted and blotched with umber and blackish- 

 brown ; 1.3 X .9 inch. 



Genus Sphecotheres. 



Lores bare, as also the region around and behind the eye. 

 Sexes differ in plumage. 



The males of both the Australian species are yellowish-green 

 above, the head and nape, the primaries and the tail black, the 

 latter with white tips to the feathers; the bill black and the 

 feet flesh-coloured. The females are brown above, and whitish 

 below. 



The Fig-bird, S. maxiUaris. Eastern Australia. Throat and fore-neck of 

 male leaden-grey, rest of under surface dull yellowish-green. Length 

 9.5 inches. 



The Yellow-bellied Fig-bird, S. flaviventris. North and North-east Aus- 

 tralia. Throat and fore-neck of male bright yellow, as well as the 

 rest of the under surface. Length 10.2 inches. 



Stalker's Fig-bird, S. .sfo^teri. Queensland (Mt. Elliot). This bird is most 

 nearly allied to S. salvadorii, of New Guinea. The grey on the throat 

 is flecked or faintly streaked with white, especially on the sides of 

 the neck below the auriculars, these parts being of a uniform grey, 

 the back is greyish-green, and pale yellow underneath. Three of the 

 outer tail-feathers are marked with white. 



These birds feed chiefly on fruit, especially on the species of 

 figs. They are scarce birds, and travel in flocks while feeding, 

 and are noisy when so doing. Three or four pairs of birds will 



