194 TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY 



The Magpie {Pica caudata) is a handsome bird (glossy black, 

 shoulders and belly white), but much given to plundering the young and 

 the eggs of our pretty songsters. It builds its nest in high trees, out of 

 dry sticks and thorns. As a protection against birds of prey it covers 

 it with a roof, only a small entrance-hole being left, which leads to 

 the interior. Like all the birds of this family, it is fond of conveying 

 all sorts of glittering objects to its nest. (See " The Jackdaw cf 

 Eheims.") 



The Common Jay (Garrulus glandarius) is even a greater destroyer 

 of nests than the magpie ; it is more murderous than the butcher-bird, 

 according to the opinion of one of the most industrious students of birds 

 in Germany. The plumage of this bird is yellowish-red ; the wings are 

 adorned with a beautiful black, blue and white coloured " speculum." 

 The head bears a tuft of feathers. With its short, strong beak it can 

 even crack open nuts. It also eats acorns, which it first softens in its 

 crop, vomits up again, and then splits open. It lives in woods, and is 

 very clever in imitating the notes of other birds. 



The Golden Oriole (Oriolus galbula) is more distantly related to the 

 birds of this family. It arrives in Germany from its African winter home 

 about Whitsuntide (hence here also called "Whitsun bird"). It is a 

 rare visitor to most parts of England, but more frequent in Cornwall and 

 the Scilly Islands. The female is of a canary-green colour (protective 

 colouring ; see chaffinch), but the male, in its golden-coloured plumage, 

 black tail and wings, forms one of our most handsome birds. This 

 splendidly-coloured plumage renders the bird conspicuous, and hence it is 

 very shy, and likes to hide itself in the dense foliage of the trees (see, on 

 the other hand, the nightingale). The nest is built in the fork of a tree, 

 and forms a beautiful hanging cradle, most artistically woven and plaited 

 together by the united labours of the male and female birds. The beak is 

 awl-shaped, which (as in the nightingale) points to an exclusively soft kind 

 of food. This, in fact, consists of caterpillars. To so handsome a bird 

 we need not grudge the few cherries or berries of which it occasionally 

 pilfers our gardens. 



The Birds of Paradise (Paradiseidw) may be regarded as still more 

 distant relatives of the Corvidce. Their home is in New Guinea, North 

 Australia, and the neighbouring islands. Amongst them we number 

 the most beautiful of all birds (hence their name). The males especi- 

 ally are resplendent in the most gorgeous colours of metallic brilliancy, 

 and are generally further adorned with plumes of marvellous shapes and 

 forms. Nor does this conspicuous dress expose the birds to danger, as 

 one might naturally, suppose, for the countries they inhabit are free from 

 the most formidable enemies of forest birds (monkeys, cats, martens, 



