RING OUSEL. 
101 
those covering the scapulars having a clear streak 
along the shaft of yellowish white, and the feathers 
of the wings are more deeply margined with 
gray. Underneath, the throat is yellowish white, 
sparingly marked with brownish black, and on 
the breast, belly, and vent, each feather is varied 
with alternate bars of yellowish white and black- 
ish brown, giving a spotted or mottled appearance. 
In the very young plumage, the feathers covering 
the scapulars have the central streak more dis- 
tinct, finishing broader towards the tip of the 
feather. The length is from ten inches to ten and 
a half. 
Our next British form will be seen in the 
family Oriolinoe, containing many birds of very 
splendid plumage. It is among these that we 
have the beautiful Irma of the Indian islands, 
and the Sericulus of New Holland, while the 
members of the typical genus, distributed over 
the old world, are clothed in brilliant yellow, 
broken and interrupted by bold markings of deep 
black. In form, the true Orioles are rather 
strongly made, and all possess considerable 
powers of flight. A minute account of the habits 
of any species is still wanted, and we only know 
that they frequent countries moderately wooded, 
appear in small flocks when the season of incuba- 
tion has passed, feed on soft insects, caterpillars, 
fruits and berries, and display considerable care 
in the structure and mechanism of their nest. 
