Starlings.] 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



339 



".vinged and serviceable friends, which, as soon as 

 the herd halts to feed, return to their avocation. 



Dr. Smith never observed this bird attaching 

 itself to any quadruped but the buffalo ; while two 

 species of Buph&ga visit the rhinoceros. The gene- 

 ral colour of the Red-billed Weaver-bird is blackish- 

 brown ; the primaries are marked largely with 

 white ; bill yellowish red, with a purplish tinge on 

 the sides. 



1521. — Nest of Bat A Sparrow, or Toddy-Bird. 



" The Baya, or Bottle-nested Sparrow, is remark- 

 able for its pendent nest, brilliant plumage, and un- 

 common sagacity. These birds are found in most 

 parts of Hindostan; in shape they resemble the 

 sparrow, as also in the brown feathers of the back 

 and wings : they are of a bright yellow, and in the 

 rays of a tropical sun have a splendid appearance 

 when thousands are flying in the same grove. They 

 make a chirping noise, but have no song : they asso- 

 ciate in large communities, and cover extensive 

 clumps of Palmyras, acacias, and date-trees with 

 their nests. These are formed in a very ingenious 

 manner, by long grass woven together in the shape 

 of a bottle, and suspended by the other end to the 

 extremity of a flexible branch, the more effectually 

 to secure the eggs and young brood from serpents, 

 monkeys, squirrels, and birds of prey. The nests 

 contain several apartments, appropriated to differ- 

 ent purposes: in one the hen performs the office of 

 incubation; another, consisting of a little vault 

 covering a perch without a bottom, is occupied by 

 the male, who with his chirping note cheers the 

 female during her maternal duties." (Forbes, 

 ' Orient. Mem,') 



Fig. 1522 represents the nests of the Sociable 

 Weaver-bird, previously described (from Le Vail- 

 lant). 



Family STURNID.E (STARLINGS). 



In this family the beak is elongated and conical, 

 running to a sharp point from a stout base. In some 

 genera the ridge of the upper mandible is carried 

 up the forehead : in others the beak is depressed at 

 its extremity. The diet is of a mixed character. 

 Many species associate in flocks, and many build 

 artful pendent nests like those of the weaver-birds, 

 to which group they in many respects closely ap- 

 proximate. 



1523.— The Rice-Troopial 



(Dolichonyx orizivorus, Swains.). Bob-o-Link, 

 Rice-bird, Reed-bird, Rice-bunting of authors. This 

 is a well-known bird throughout the whole of 

 North America, from the Saskatchewan river to 

 Mexico ; flocks arriving in March from their winter- 

 quarters, the West India Islands, and scattering them- 

 selves over the savannahs and meadows, and newly- 

 ploughed lands, feeding on insects and their larvae, 

 as well as on the tender wheat and early barley. 

 They associate in large flocks, the males uttering a 

 rapid voluble strain in chorus, all simultaneously 

 ceasing at the same instant. 



About the middle of May these birds reach the 

 state of New York, and pair and prepare their nests. 

 At this season the males pour forth their gongs in the 

 air, rising and falling in successive jerks. The nest 

 is placed amongst the grass, or in a field of wheat 

 or barley, on the ground, and is composed of dry 

 grasses and leaves, lined with finer materials ; the 

 eggs, five in number, are dull bluish-white, spotted 

 with blackish. 



In July, when the young are reared, these rice- 

 troopials assemble in incredible multitudes, and 

 begin their devastations. They plunder the fields 

 of grain, they swarm about reed-beds, alighting 

 in thousands, bearing down the stems with their 

 weight, and feeding on the ripe seeds. Their pro- 

 gress is towards the Southern States, and in Septem- 

 ber they appear in Carolina in countless numbers, 

 spreading over the rice-fields and devouring the 

 grain while yet soft and milky ; thus they often ruin 

 acres of this produce. From the time of their con- 

 gregating in July to September, the gun thins their 

 numbers; thousands are killed for the markets, 

 their flesh being exquisite. Towards the close of 

 October, before the rice-crop is gathered in, the 

 troops have made their appearance in Cuba and 

 Jamaica, where they feed on the seeds of the 

 Guinea-grass, and where the birds, being very fat, 

 are in high esteem for the table. 



The rice-troopial is subject to a double annual 

 moult and change of colouring. The male in his 

 spring dress has the head, fore part of the back, 

 shoulders, wings, and tail, together with the whole 

 of the under plumage, black, passing on the middle 

 of the back into greyish ; scapulars, rump, and 

 upper tail-coverts white ; back of the neck ochre- 

 yellow. Bill bluish-black, but in the autumn pale 

 flesh-colour, as in the female and young male. The 

 feathers of the tail are sharp at the end, as in the 

 woodpecker. 



The female, whose plumage the adult male 



assumes after the breeding-season, has the back 

 streaked with brownish black, and the whole of the 

 under parts of a dirty yellow. 



1524. — The Baltimore Oriole 



(Icterus Bcdtimoriis). In the genus Icterus the beak 

 is long and conical, and a narrow slip of horn, from 

 the upper mandible, runs up the forehead. 



The Baltimore Oriole (Baltimore-bird, and Balti- 

 more Starling) derives its name, as Catesby informs 

 us, from its colours, which are brilliant orange and 

 black, being those of the arms or livery of Lord 

 Ballimore, formerly proprietor of Maryland. 



This species is a summer visitor to the United 

 Stales, arriving from more southern regions (in 

 which it passes the winter) about the beginning of 

 May, and departing at the close of August. Its 

 range extends throughout North America, from 

 Canada to Mexico, and, according to Wilson, it is 

 even found as far south as Brazil. Not only does 

 it frequent woods and trees surrounding farm-houses, 

 but even ventures into towns and villages. " Since 

 the streets of our cities," says Wilson, " have been 

 planted with that beautiful and stately tree the 

 Lombardy poplar, these birds are our constant visi- 

 tors during the early part of the summer ; and amid 

 the noise and tumult, of coaches, drays, and wheel- 

 barrows, and the din of the multitude, they are heard 

 chanting their native wood-notes wild." The strain 

 is a clear mellow whistle, repeated at short intervals, 

 and with a degree of wild plaintiveness in it, render- 

 ing it extremely interesting. The ordinary call of 

 this bird is a reiterated chirrup, which becomes 

 louder, and is uttered in an angry tone whenever 

 any enemy approaches, or upon the appearance of 

 a cat or dog near its nest. 



Almost the whole genus of Orioles (Icterus), says 

 Wilson, belong to America, and, with few r exceptions, 

 build pensile nests. " Few of them, however, equal 

 the Baltimore in the construction of these recep- 

 tacles for their young, and in giving them such con- 

 venience, warmth, and security. For these purposes 

 he generally fixes on the high bending extremities 

 of the branches, fastening long strings of hemp or 

 flax round two forked twigs, corresponding with the 

 intended width of the nest, : with the same materials, 

 mixed with quantities of loose tow, he interweaves 

 or fabricates a strong firm kind of cloth, not unlike 

 the substance of a hat in its raw state, forming it 

 into a pouch of six cr seven inches in depth, lining 

 it substantially with various soft substances, well 

 interwoven with the outward netting, and lastly 

 finishes with a layer of horsehair, the whole being 

 shaded from the sun and rain by a natural canopy 

 of leaves." As much difference, adds Wilson, will 

 be found in the style, neatness, and finishing of the 

 nests of the Baltimores, as there is in their voices. 



Audubon describes the nest of one of these birds 

 found in the state of Louisiana, as composed of the 

 long filaments of a kind of moss known there by the 

 name of Spanish-beard, and destitute of the warm 

 lining with which, had the individual built in 

 Pennsylvania or New York, it would have been fur- 

 nished ; but in Louisiana the intense heat of the 

 summer renders such a provision unnecessary. 



The position chosen by the Baltimore for its pen- 

 sile nest is no doubt suggested by instinct as a means 

 of security against the attacks of enemies, espe- 

 cially the black snake, which climbs trees with 

 facility, and which destroys young broods by whole- 

 sale, though it is often compelled by the parent birds 

 to retreat. Fig. 1525 represents a contest between 

 the Baltimore oriole and this subtle foe. 



The Baltimore oriole clings about the branches in 

 search of insects, and glides as it were along the 

 slender twigs, displaying much grace in its move- 

 ments : its flight is rapid and continuous. 



Besides insects, it greedily feeds on cherries, 

 strawberries, mulberries, figs and other sweet fruits. 



The male does not acquire his full plumage til] 

 the third year ; it is then glowing and brilliant. The 

 head, throat, upper part of the back and wings, are 

 glossy black ; the lower part of the back and whole 

 under parts rich orange, deepening into vermilion 

 on the breast. A band of orange divides the black 

 on the shoulders ; edges of the wing-coverts, second- 

 aries, and in part of the primaries, v;hite. The tail 

 is orange and black. Length seven inches and 

 three-quarters. The female has the orange much 

 duller than the male, and the back is clouded with 

 olive. 



1526.— The Pit-Pit 



(Daeiris Cay and). The Pit-pit, as it is termed by 

 Buffon, is a beautiful little bird found in Mexico, 

 resembling the Icteri and Xanthorni in the form of 

 its beak, which is sharp and conical. According to 

 Cuvier, it allies the latter to the gold-crests (Regu- 

 lus), 'Les Figuiers.' 



The Mexican name of this species is Elototl. 

 Hernandez says that it lives about the trees in the 

 Tetzcocan Mountains, and is eatable : but that being 

 destitute of a song, it is not kept in the houses of 



the inhabitants. The general colour is caerulean 

 blue ; the forehead, shoulders, wings, and tail black. 



1527.— Pensile Nests. 

 These nests, hanging to the extremity of the leaves 

 of a palm, are regarded as the productions of a specie* 

 of Icterus, which we greatly doubt ; they appear to 

 be Indian, and are most probably the workmanship 

 pf a species of weaver bird (Ploceus), but which we 

 will not attempt to identify. The Icteri do not build, 

 like the weaver-birds, in societies; the pairs keep 

 themselves apart during the breeding-season, but 

 most, if not all, the weaver-birds form colonies, 

 and hang their nests in clusters from the twigs 

 of trees and long leaves of different kinds of 

 palms. 



1528.— The Cow-Troopial 



(Molotlirus Pecoris). Icterus Pecoris, Temminck ; 

 Embcriza Pecoris, Wilson ; Cowpen-bird, Cow- 

 Blackbird, and Cow-Bunting of the Americans. 

 We have previously alluded to this bird, which, like 

 our cuckoo, prepares no nest, but selects those of 

 other birds, distributing an egg to each, and leaving 

 it to be hatched and the nestling to be reared by 

 foster-parents. 



The birds whose nests it chiefly selects appear to 

 be those of the red-eyed and white-eyed flycatchers, 

 and the Maryland yellow-throat ; but those of the 

 blue-bird, the indigo-bird, the chipping sparrow, the 

 "blue-eyed yellow warbler, the blue-grey flycatcher, 

 the golden-crowned thrush, and Wilson's thrush 

 are also used for this purpose. According to Nut- 

 tali, "When the female is disposed to lay, she ap- 

 pears restless and dejected, and separates from the 

 unregarding flock. Stealing through woods and 

 thickets, she pries into the bushes and brambles for 

 the nest that suits her, into which she darts in the 

 absence of its owner, and in a few minutes is seen 

 to rise on the wing, cheerful and relieved from the 

 anxiety that oppressed her, and proceeds back to 

 the flock she had so reluctantly forsaken. If the 

 egg be deposited in the nest alone, it is uniformly 

 forsaken ; but if the nursing parent have any of her 

 own, she immediately begins to sit. The red-eyed 

 flycatcher, i:i whose beautiful basket-like nests I 

 have observed these eggs, proves a very affectionate 

 and assiduous nurse to the uncouth foundling." 



The same author, in 1831, saw a hen red-eyed 

 flycatcher sitting on two eggs and one of the cow- 

 bird ; and he adds that this species, Vireo olivaceus, 

 and (more lately) Vireosylva olivacea of Bonaparte, 

 Muscicapa olivacea, Linn., appears to be its most 

 usual nurse. He has known this Vireo begin her 

 incubation with only an egg of each kind, whilst iu 

 other nests he has observed as many as three be- 

 longing to the Vireo, as well as that of the intruder ; 

 and he suggests that, from the largeness of the 

 egg, the nest probably immediately feels full to the 

 incubating bird, so as to induce her to sit directly, 

 when the larger egg, being brought nearer to the 

 body of the nurse than her own, is first, hatched, 

 generally, as he believes, on the twelfth or thir- 

 teenth day. The legitimate eggs are hatched about 

 a day later, and the young are often stifled by the 

 superior size of the stranger, which is affectionately 

 nursed by the poor dupe of a dam ; when the young 

 are dead, they are conveyed to a distance by the pa- 

 rent and dropped; but they are never found imme- 

 diately below the nest, as would be the case if they 

 were ejected by the young cow-bird, as is done by the 

 young cuckoo. " Indeed," continues Mr. NuttaH, . 

 " as far as I have had opportunity of observing, the 

 foundling shows no hostility to the natural brood of 

 his nurses ; but he nearly absorbs their whole atten- 

 tion, and early displays his characteristic cunning 

 and self-possession. When fully fledged, they 

 quickly desert their foster-parent, and skulk about 

 in the woods, until at length they instinctively join 

 company with those of the same feather ; and now 

 becoming more bold, are seen in parties of five or 

 six in the fields and lanes gleaning their accus- 

 tomed subsistence. They still, however, appear 

 shy and watchful, and seem too selfish to study 

 anything more than their own security and advan- 

 tage." 



The cow-bird is but a poor songster. It is a 

 migratory species, appearing in the middle and 

 northern States of the Union at the beginning of 

 April, and retiring southwards on the approach of 

 winter. The male has the head and neck blackish- 

 brown, the rest of the plumage glossy black, with 

 greenish reflections on the upper parts, and a violet 

 lustre on the breast. The female is sooty-brown 

 above and pale beneath, as are also the young, with 

 the breast spotted. The foremost of the upper 

 figures is the male, the other the female ; the lower 

 a young bird. 



An allied species (Le Troupiale Commun of 

 Azara), seen by Darwin in large flocks near Mal- 

 donado, is said to have the same habit with regard 

 to its eggs as the Molothrus Pecoris. 



2X2 



