146 
POPULAR HISTOEY OP BIRDS. 
nectar of flowers ; but Mr. Gosse says this seems only to be 
done to quench its thirst. 
The Tinkling Grakles roost in society^ as many as four or 
five hundred congregating on adjoining trees^ and^ before 
settling in their places for the nighty a good deal of jostling 
occurs ; during this process their voices may be heard. 
Gosse compares the noise made to that which would arise 
from two or three hundred small table-bells of various tones 
all ringing at the same time. The nests are built together to 
the number of twenty or thirty, and are deep and compact, 
and placed on the forks of branches of trees, at a consider- 
able height from the ground. . - ■ 
About Para, the only brilliantly-coloured bird which may 
be regarded as very common, is the Yellow Troupial [Cassi- 
cus icteronotus), Mr. Wallace"^ describes it there as being 
very abundant, and as forming quite a feature in the land- 
scape. It builds its nest in colonies, and suspends this long, 
purse-like nest, so familiar an object in every museum, from 
the ends of the branches of trees. The sight of so showy 
a black-and-yellow bird, flying in and out with unceasing 
diligence, must be very gratifying to one who has just landed 
on a new continent. 
* Travels on the Amazon and Rio Negro, p. 15. 
