J.BuuIiL iKCHuhur, deb cb lith,.
P S A M P H O i t r S TTR A IIJ .T,
Walter, Imp.
P S A R O P H O L U S T R A I L L I .
Maroon Oriole.
Pastor Traillii, Vig. in Proc. of Comm, of Sci. and Corr. of Zool. Soc., part i. p. 176.—Gould, Cent, of Birds,
pi. xxxv.
Oriolus Traillii, Hodgs. Joum. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. v. p. 772.—G. R. Gray, Cat. of Spec, and Draw, of Birds pres,
by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., to Brit. Mus., p. 87.—M'Clell. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part vii. 1839, p. 160.—
Blyth, Joum. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xi. pp. 192 and 797, vol. xv. p. 45 ; Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc.
Calcutta, p. 215 ; Ibis, 1867, p. 11.—G. R. Gray and Mitcb. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 232, Oriolus, sp. 16.
—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East-Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 272.—Jerd. Birds of India, vol. ii.
p. 112.
Psaropholus Traillii, Jard. and Selb. 111. Orn., 3rd ser. pi. xxvi.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. p. 345.
Analcipus Traillii, G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, 2d edit. p. 38, and Hand-list of Birds, part i. p. 290.
T h is , one of the finest and most attractive of the Insessorial birds of the Himalayan region, is to all intents
and purposes a true Oriole ; yet it has been generically separated by some of our best ornithologists from the
other members of the genus Oriolus ; and in following in their wake I must admit that I am acting inconsistently
with my conviction. The late Mr. Vigors regarded it as a Pastor, and so described it in the first
p art of the ‘ Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological S o c ie ty a n d
as such it also appeared in my ‘ Century of B irds.’ Sir William Jardine and Mr. Selby made it the type of
their genus Psaropholus; by Mr. Hodgson it was placed in that of Oriolus, rightly in my opinion ; while
Mr. G. R. Gray includes it in the genus Analcipus, of which A . sanguinolentus is the type, a Javan form, of
which, I believe, no other species is known ; if, however, as is generally admitted, Mimeta is separable from
Oriolus, then, of course, Psaropholus is also. The solitary Analcipus, I consider, differs sufficiently to render
a separate generic designation necessary.
It is somewhat surprising that very little has been recorded respecting the habits and economy o f this bird,
since it must have come under the observation of many naturalists and travellers who have visited the
Himalayas; yet the following hrief note by Dr. Jerdon is all I can find respecting it.
“ This curiously plumaged Oriole,” says this gentleman, “ is found in the eastern p art of the Himalayas,
Nepaul, and Sikhim, extending into Assam, Arrakan, and Tenasserim. It is met with a t about 2000 to at
least 7000 feet of elevation, generally in small flocks, keeping to high trees, and has a fine loud mellow call.
Those I examined had fed upon caterpillars only.”
It has not yet been ascertained whether the females assume a similar but less brilliant colouring than that
of the males, or whether the birds with striated breasts are young individuals or fully adult females ; in all
probability the latter is the case, and my Plate represents an old bird of each sex.
The male has the head, neck, and wings of a fine glossy black; plumage of the body, both above and
beneath, dark glistening maroon-red, the basal portion of the feathers white and occasionally appearing
between the maroon-coloured tip s ; tail of a similar but very much lighter tint, the shafts yellowish white
for two thirds of their length from the base ; bill lively leaden b lu e ; irides pale yellow ; legs and feet lead-
colour.
The female has the head and upper surface brown, darkest on the former; upper tail-coverts red, as in
the male, but less b rig h t; wings brownish black; tail red, the external feathers broadly margined externally
with brown ; the two central ones brown, .with a streak of red down the middle of the basal portion;
under surface dull white, with a stripe of dark brown down the centre of each feather, and a slight wash of
maroon-red on the throat and b rea s t; bill and feet as in the male, but not quite so clear.
“ The young bird is brown above, darkest on the head, has the tail red, is of a sullied white beneath, with
numerous longitudinal brown streaks ; and the iris yellowish brown.”—Jerdon.
The figures are of the size of life.