Norwich Castle Museum. 65 
tive, but various species are found in Africa and 
Asia; they are very handsome birds, the large Indian 
Racket-tailed Drongo (£dolfius) being perhaps the 
most conspicuous. For beauty of plumage and purity 
of colour few birds are more noticeable than the 
OrroLip& or Orioles, which come next in succession, and 
of which there are numerous examples in the collection ; 
there are only two genera, but a considerable number 
of species, inhabiting temperate Europe, Africa, Asia, 
and the Australian region, where only are found the 
birds of the genus Sphecotheres, specimens of which 
will be noticed in the collection. The numerous 
family of IcreRID4:, peculiar to and most characteristic 
of America, is well represented here ; it consists of the 
Cassiques and the Hangnests; notable among the 
former are the curious Crested Cassique (Ostznops) 
and the yellow Cassique (Cassicus), both from Central 
America. Another remarkable bird is the Purple 
Grackle or Crow-Blackbird (Quzscalus major), found 
in the Atlantic States of America. ‘This leads us to 
the large family PLocip® or Weaver birds, to be found 
in 
Case III. 
The beautiful Old-World Finches of the genus Vzdua, 
are remarkable for the greatly elongated tail feathers 
assumed by the male bird in the breeding season, 
V. paradisea, the long-tailed Wydah Bird, is a good 
example. The contrasts of glossy back, gold colour, 
and brilliant crimson are very lovely, but the plumage 
of the female is much more homely. The Bishop Bird 
(Pyromelana oryx), a nearly-allied species, is also a 
very attractive bird, the velvety plumage of red and 
black forming a pleasing contrast ; this species is often 
imported as a cage-bird. The South African Diamond 
Finch is a charming little bird, near to which wili be 
E 
