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In the southern parts of Europe, this bird is esteemed 
for the table, and in the markets of Naples and other 
places is regularly exposed to sale ; in the southern pro- 
vinces of France it is very common, and continues there 
the greater part of the year. Its nest is curiously con- 
structed ; it is pendulous, and usually attached to the 
extreme tip of a branch, and is composed of fibres and 
straws, mixed with dry grass and licliens, so that it appears 
at first sight like a tuft of hay that was accidentally ad- 
hering to the branch ; the entrance is on one side ; it 
lays four or five dirty white eggs, with numerous small 
brown and du^ky spots; the female is very tenacious of 
her nest, and will suifer herself to be taken with rather 
than quit her eggs ; these are about the size of those of the 
Blackbird, but longer and less bulky. 
The species is widely dispersed, as it is found in Europe, 
Asia, and Africa ; is common in China, Bengal, and the 
Cape of Good Hope ; it is mostly migratory in Europe, 
only visiting the northern parts during the summer, and it 
is generally supposed to winter in the warmer parts of 
Asia and Africa. 
Its food is fruits of various kinds, particularly sucli as 
are pulpy ; in default of which it devours insects, worms, 
and grain : its note is an extremely loud shrill cry, which 
is said to resemble the word Lorvit, from which it derives 
its French name. 
