64 The Official Guide to the 
the rare Victoria Rifle bird is a very beautiful example 
Next are the Bower birds, also of Australian origin, 
and remarkable for the curious structures which they 
raise, ornamented with shells, stones, and any brightly- 
coloured object ; these ‘‘runs,” as they are called, seem 
to serve no other purpose than that of a playground for 
the birds, and appear to be built by the males to 
attract the opposite sex; the Satin Bower bird from 
New South Wales is the type of the family. Next in 
order are the beautiful Regent Birds found in Eastern — 
Australia. Then comes the Srurnipa&, including our 
familiar Starling and other forms, some of which have 
plumage glowing with metallic colours. Closely allied 
to the Starlings are the Indian Mynas, placed by Dr. 
Mivart in a separate family EuvLaserip®, commonly 
called Grakles, an interesting class of birds, and from 
their excellence as*mimics great favourites as cage- 
birds. The Southern Gracle, Gracula religiosa, is 
remarkable for a curious wattle of bare skin of a 
bright yellow colour, which, beginning on either side 
the head behind the eye runs backward, forming a 
conspicuous lappet, and returns in a narrow stripe to 
just above the eye. Other birds of this family will be 
found in 
Case Il. 
from Amoy, Nepal, &c. <A lovely bird, the Shining 
Aplonus, a rare and beautiful Australian species, is in 
close proximity. The Ox-pecker (Buphaga africana), 
an inconspicuous bird found throughout most parts of 
Africa, has much the habits of the starling, and is useful 
in ridding the cattle of the parasites with which their 
hides are frequently infested. 
Next follows the large and beautiful family of 
Dicrurip&, the King Crows or Drongos. CAzbia 
bracteata appears to be the only Australian representa- 
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