( 77 ) 
The Black-Headed Indian Icterus. 
T his Bird is figured of its natural Size 3 it is fiiaped pretty much like a ThrthJIj- 
but hath the Bill fomething Wronger in Proportion. 
The Bill is of a brownifii White, or dirty Flefii Colour 3 the Head and under Side of 
the Neck is Black 3 the Head hath a Purple Glofs, and the Yellow indented Vv^ith the 
Black on the Sides of the Neck, as the Figure fliews : The whole Body, the covert Fea- 
thers of the Wings, without and within, and almofi: the whole Tail, is of a bright 
fine Yellow-colour : The greater or outermofi; Quill Feathers are Black, their Edges near 
their Roots being a little Yellow 3 the Remainder of the Quills next the Body are tipp’d 
with Yellow, which Colour extends a little Way along their outer Webs 3 the Tips of 
the covert Feathers, where they fall on the greater Quills, are Yellow, which form a dif- 
tindl Spot of Yellow a little above the Middle of the Wing, as do the Tips of the inner 
Qmlls in the lower Part 3 there is a little Mixture of Yellow and Black on the Ridge of 
the Wings in the upper Part 3 the Tail is compofed of twelve yellow Feathers of equal 
Length, the two middlemofi; only having a black Bar a-crofs each of them of about an 
Inch Width toward their Tips, the Tips themfelves for a fmall Space being Yellow: The 
Legs and Feet are of a dull blueifii Black-colour 3 it hath four Toes on each Foot, 
landing after the ufual Manner 3 the Claws are black, and pretty llrong. 
Mr. Jofeph Da?idridge^ in Moorjields^ obliged me with this Bird : He received 
it from a Relation of his at Bengal^ in the Eajl-Indies : I have given it the 
Name of IBerus, from its Likenefs to a Bird which pafiTes from hotter Countries into 
the Southern Parts of Europe in the Summer, which Aldrovand has pronounced 
the IBerus of Pliny but have call’d mine, by Way of Difiindlion, black-headedy 
feeing the other hath the Head all Yellow, except a black Line on each Side from the 
Corners of the Mouth to the Eyes 5 the Coverts of the Wings in that are Black, and ih 
mine Yellow 3 the whole Bodies in both are wholly Yellow, and they are both found in 
Bengaly fo may equally claim the Name of Indian. They who would fee the Diffe- 
rence between this and the other, may find that deferibed very well in Willoughby ^ 
Ornithology, p. 198. by the Name of the Witwall\ and as ill by Albin^ in his Hiftory 
of Birds, Voi. 3, p-^i 9. where he calls it the Tellow Bird from Bengal 5 he acknowledges 
he faw only a Pidture of it. I have by me Drawings of both thefe Kinds from 
Nature, after very perfedt Specimens. The Bird here figured will, I believe, be per- 
fedtly new to the Curious in thefe Parts of the World. I find no Figure or Mention of 
it in any Natural HiRorian or Voyager. 
H 
