92 A NATURALIST IN CELEBES ch. v 



guriting,' are as common as the blackbirds and thrushes of 

 our English woods. The latter is a very handsome jet black 

 bird, with two long tails which open and shut during flight 

 like a pair of scissors in action. 



There is a starling, too (Calornis neglecta), frequently 

 seen in thousands upon the dead trees of the forest. It is 

 of a uniformly dark colour, with a brilliant orange-red iris. 

 The native name is ' Sie.' It is but rarely seen in the 

 forests and fields of the main island, but is nevertheless 

 quite the commonest bird met with throughout the islands 

 which lie between Celebes and the Philippines. I found it 

 in numbers in Tagulandang, Siauw, Sangir, Talaut islands, 

 and the Nanusa islands.' 



A beautiful golden oriole {Oriolus celebensis), reminding 

 one of the English bird, is occasionally seen. It is called 

 the yellow bird, ' Burong kuning,' by the natives. 



The smallest and at the same time the most domesti- 

 cated of the birds of Talisse are the beautiful little nectar- 

 birds (the Anthothreptes celebensis), called by the natives 

 ' Burong chuwi.' They may be seen upon nearly every 

 hibiscus shrub in the gardens behind my hut, and seem 

 to be always so busy searching for insects upon the 

 leaves and flower stalks that they hardly know what it is 

 to be shy. The male has a most brilliant little head of 

 green and pink and brilliant metallic colours ; the throat 

 is dull brick red, the breast pale yellow, and the back 

 covered with a bright violet and green metallic gloss. 

 Every specimen is a perfect little bird gem. The female 

 chuwi is not nearly so brilliant, the back and breast being of 

 a rusty pink and the wings of a dull golden green colour. 



There were several kinds of pigeons, the commonest 

 and at the same time the most conspicuous being the 



' The variety ol this bird found in these islands is regarded by some 

 ornithologists as a separate species (67). 



