BRACHYPODIN &. — ANDROPADUS. QT 
sociality to man, which other tribes do not possess. 
This very sociability, in fact, is one of the most re- 
markable peculiarities in this genus, and in the Jm- 
portan (Andropadus familiaris, Sw.*) is carried to such 
an extreme, that Le Vaillant seems to have dreaded 
meeting this bird, from its keeping him company in a 
day’s shooting, and diverting his attention from other 
birds ; hence the name he bestows upon it. The last 
genus of short-legged thrushes (Jcteria, Vieil.) at present 
consists but of two birds: one, the Jcteria polyglotta, 
or yellow-breasted chat, of America ; the other, a new 
species from India, which was once in the possession of 
Mr. Grey, of the British Museum. Wilson has given 
_ a highly interesting account of the first, clearly showing 
t 
its affinity to Andropadus. It is equally attached to_ 
man, and would seem to surpass even the Boulbuls in 
the strength and versatility of its song. All these con- 
terminous groups, moreover, have a singular habit of 
turning over in the air during flight, something in the 
manner of a tumbler pigeon, and at other times of — 
throwing themselves into strange and grotesque atti- 
tudes, just as their representatives in the circles of 
Fluvicoline and Sawxicoline. - 
(20.) From the short-legged thrushes we pass to 
the orioles (Orioling, Sw.) by such birds, in all pro- 
bability, as the palm-thrush of Buffon, and the genus 
Dulas of M. Vieillot. The golden oriole of Europe 
(Oriolus galbula), an occasional visiter to these islands, 
is a well known and beautiful example of this group, 
distinguished by nearly all the species, being of a rich 
yellow or golden colour. They live in small flocks, fly 
well, and frequent high trees, among the foliage of 
which they seek for caterpillars, soft insects, and fruits. 
In the last group we took a final leave of the fly-catch- 
ing birds, having the mouth provided with bristles, and 
we accordingly find in this that the rictus is smooth. 
The rump feathers of the orioles are formed something 
in the same manner as those of the caterpillar-catchers 
* Le Vaillant, Oiseaux d’ Afrique, iii. pl. 106. f. 2. 
c 3 
