THE ORIOLES. 
brown wings and tail ; cheeks, chin, and upper throat white ; 
Under surface very pale brown, the flanks mottled with darker 
brown. 
In winter the plumage of the old birds is not so brilliant, the 
whole of the feathers being obscured by sandy-coloured edges 
a nd tips, which wear off and become abraded as the spring 
a Pproaches. 
Range in Great Britain. — An accidental visitor from the south- 
east. 
Range outside the British Islands.— Very common in winter in 
the plains of India, staying in that country very late in the 
season (we ourselves saw a flock of some ten individuals in 
brilliant summer plumage near Futtehpur Sikri on the 3rd of 
July), but they disappear suddenly, and are back again with 
their young early in August. During their short absence from 
their winter quarters they visit Central Asia, and come to 
Asia Minor and South-eastern Europe to nest, as well as 
Bulgaria, the Dobrudscha, and the vicinity of Smyrna at 
irregular intervals, often following the locusts. They have 
even been known to breed in large numbers as far west 
as Verona. An interesting account of the nesting of this 
species will be found in Mr. Seebohm’s “ History of British 
Birds ” (/.c.). 
Hahits. — In most respects resembling our common Starling, 
but differing in their mode of nesting, when they are gregarious, 
and build their nests in holes of buildings or rocks. 
Eggs. — Five to seven, nearly white or pale grey. Axis, 
fr-i’2 inch ; diam., o‘8-o - 9. 
THE ORIOLES. FAMILY ORIOLID^E. 
The Orioles are birds generally of a bright black and yellow 
plumage, or black and crimson. They are entirely confined to 
the Old World, the so-called “Orioles” of America belonging 
to a totally different family of birds, viz., the Ictendce. 1 . hey 
differ from the Crows not only in their brilliant coloration, but 
in having a notch in the upper mandible, such as is found in 
Thrushes and many other Passerine birds. Their mode of 
