PILy ASTER VIF 
It * is common in feveral parts of Europe, but fuppofed to be moft * 
frequent in France, where it fpends the fummer, and propagates its 
fpecies. It is fcarcely ever feen fo far north as Sweden; and confe-.. 
quently is rare in England; is mentioned as a bird of Ruffia, though 
perhaps it only inhabits the warmer parts ; comes twice in a year into 
Switzerland, and is found alfo in Carniola ; obferved in Malta in Septem- 
ber on its paflage fouthward, and returns in {pring to the north through | 
the fame track; comes into Con/fantinople in fpring, and leaves it in 
September, but ftays in Alexandria till the beginning of November,’ 
when it takes its leave; from this we muft fuppofe that it winters in- 
Africa and Afia, efpecially as this very bird has been brought from 
China and Bengal +, as well as the Cape of Good Flope. 
A variety of this ioe. with the head and throat of a full black. 
colour, is common in India, where it is called the Mango-bird, as it 
appears firft at the ripening of that fruit, and is at that feafon in great 
plenty f. 
“« The neft is of a curious conftruGtion, but perhaps not quite fo 
as fome of the Orioles, though built after the fame fafhion. It is of 
the fhape of a purfe, fattened to the extreme divarications of the out- 
moft twigs of tall trees, and compofed of fibres of hemp or ftraw, 
mixed with fine dry ftalks of grafs lined within with mofs and liver- 
wort. ‘The female lays four or five egye, of a dirty white, marked 
with fmall dark-brown fpots, which are thickeft about the largeft end: 
fhe fits three weeks, and is obferved to be very tender of her youn 
b) ¥ y 2 
* Latham. Gen. Syn. 
+ This bird muft have been very little known in England at the time Albin pub- 
lifthed his Hiftory of Birds (1740) for he fays in the defcription annexed to his figure 
“ a drawing from the life of this curious bird was brought from Bengal to Mr. Dandridges 
who was pleafed to let me have a drawing from it.” 
{ Lady Impey, 
‘ D.3 fearing 
