Europe; but I believe molt fo in France, where it fpends the
fummers, and propagates its fpecies. It is fcarcely ever feen
lb far north as England or Sweden; yet mentioned as a bird of
RuJJia, but fuppofe only the warmer parts of i t ; comes twice in
a year into Switzerland, and found alfo in Carniola; obferved in
Malta in September, on its pafiage fouthward, and returns in fpring
-■ t0 the north through the fame track 5 comes into Confiantinople in-
fpring, and leaves it in September, but ftays in /Alexandria till the
beginning of November, when it takes its leave. From this,, mutt
fuppofe that it winters in Africa and Afia, efpecially as this very
bird, has been brought from China and Bengal, as well as the Cape
of Good Hope.
The nett is of a curious conftruftion, but perhaps not quite fo as
in fome of the Orioles above-mentioned, though built after the fame
falhion. It is of the lhape of a purfe, fattened to the extreme divarications
of the outmoft twigs of tall trees, and compofed of
fibres of hemp or ftraw, mixed with fine dry ftalks of grafs, and
lined within with mofs and liverwort. The female lays four
or five eggs, of a dirty white* marked with finall dark-brown
fpots, which are thickeft about the largeft end : Ihe fits three
weeks, and is obferved to be very tender of her young, fearing nothing
for their defence; not unfrequently will fuffer herfelf to be
taken with the eggs and nett* and continue to fit upon them in a
cage till Ihe dies.
The food which this bird is moll fond of is grapes and figs, in
the feafon, alfo cherries, & c .; but at other times is contented with
infefts, and what elfe it can get.
I t has a loud cry, which may be heard far off; but I do not
hear it remarked by any one for the leaft fong, though Gefner
fays it whittles before rain. The flelh is. accounted good eating.
Willughby'
Willughby faw thefe birds expofed in the poulterers lliops in Naples
for fale.
It is very likely that the yellow and buff Jay * of Ray are only
the male and female of the golden Thrufh.
Oriolus melanocephalus, Lin.SyJl. i. p. i'6o. N° 3. 4.3.
t.e Loriot de Bengale, Brif. orn. ii. p. 329. N° 61. Var, A.
JLeLoriot de la Chine, Buf. oif. iii. p. 262. II.—PI. ml. 79.
Black-headed Indian Idterus,. 77.
r ENGTH eight inches and three quarters. The bill is inclin- D escription.
ing to red: irides hazel: the whole head, and the throat, of
a full black : greater quills black, longitudinally marked with
yellow: the baftard wing Is alfo marked with yellow : tail the
fame, except the two middle feathers, which are black half way
from the end, and the one on each fide has a black fpot on the
infide web, in the middle: legs lead-colour: claws black.
Inhabits Madras. Place»
Le Troopiale tacheté deMadraft, Brif. orn. ii. p. 91. Na j
Mottled Jay, Rail Syn. p. 195. N°9. pi. 1, f. 7.
Yellow Starling from Bengal, Albin, ii. pi. 41.
Yellow Indian Starling, Edw. pi. 186.
O IZ E of a Jay. Head, throat, and neck, black: body yellow, Description,
fpotted with black : upper and under tail coverts the fame :
wing coverts, quills, and tail, blackilh.
Inhabits Madras. Called by the Gentoos, Cundoe Vanga Pandooe. Place.
? Rail Syn. Av. p. 194. N° 7, S.
3 M 2 Oriolus