THE HANG-NESTS. 
29 
have been sent to the British Museum by Mr. W. D. Cum- 
ming. The winter home of the species seems to be Southern 
and South-western Africa, — viz., Natal, the Transvaal and Da- 
mara Land. 
Habits. — Very much like those of a Thrush. In disposition 
the bird is very shy and by no means so easily observed as 
its brilliant plumage would lead one to suppose, though it is 
often found nesting in parks and gardens of continental towns. 
Its food consists mostly of insects, but in summer it feeds a 
great deal on fruit, especially cherries. The note is described 
as flute-like and very beautiful in tone. Mr. Seebohm, who 
has taken many nests of the Oriole in Holland, says : “ The 
call-note during the pairing season sounds like the words, 
‘ Who are you ? ’ in a full rapid whistle ; and its song is a 
wheet, li, vee-o, whence its vernacular name in Holland of 
* Kiel-i-vee-vo. ’ ” 
Nest. — Suspended from the fork of a branch, sometimes in a 
fir-tree, but generally in an oak, at a considerable height from 
the ground. It is composed of strips of bark, which are also 
used to bind it to the branch in which it is fixed. The lining 
consists of grass-stalks. 
Eggs.-— Four or five, white or pinkish white, spotted nearly 
all over with black or chocolate brown, the latter generally 
being the underlying colour, the spots not unfrequently congre- 
gated at the larger end. Axis, ri-i'3 inch ; diam., o'8-o-g. 
THE HANG-NESTS. FAMILY ICTERID2E • 
Three species of this American family have been allowed to 
swell the British List,— (1) the Red-winged Starling ( Agelaus 
phceniceus ), of which about a dozen occurrences have taken 
place ; (2) the Rusty Grakle (Scolecophagus ferrugineus), which 
has been captured once; and the Meadow Starling ( Siur - 
nella magnet), of the occurrence of which three instances are 
known. There can be no reasonable doubt that they were all 
imported birds which had escaped or been turned loose. 
* Gracula religiosa, an Indian Mynah, has also been recorded, but as it 
is a frequent cage-bird, no importance can be attached to its capture. 
