iS,

PNR OD UC LI ON:

lix
Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., has communicated to me the following interesting fact in connexion with this

bird :—* A Mr. Noble once noticed at Blackwall, near Darlington, an object on a fir tree which he took for

a Pheasant; but on firing at it he found that, instead of a Pheasant, it was a great ball of Long-tailed Tits.

He told me that he did not kill less than a dozen. My father informs me that the South-African Colies

roost congregated in bunches ;” and I have witnessed the same in the Artanus sordidus in Tasmania.

78. Mectstura CAUDATA

: : : : s : . : : , Vol. Il. Pl. X XTX.

Lone-ramep Trr (young).

Family ee

Genus CaLamopuiwus.

79. CALAMOPHILUS BIARMICUS

: : : : 3 WOlESIIE: IIE XOXOXG

Bearpep Tir.

A resident species in the marshes and along the sides of the rivers of our eastern counties ; but the

drainage of the former and the clearance of the sedges of the latter have greatly diminished the numbers of

this lovely little bird. Still it is common with us, and even more so in Holland and other fluviatile districts

of Central Europe.

This bird is by no means a genuine Tit, although it is commonly so called, and is placed here for the

want of a more natural situation.

Family ORIOLID#.
A group of Old-World birds,

the members of which are beautifully coloured, yellow and black being the

prevailing tints, particularly of that section of them typified by the Oriolus galbula. The countries they

frequent are either hot or temperate, Africa, India, China, the Philippines, Java, Sumatra, and some of the
islands of the Eastern Archipelago being tenanted by one or other of the species.

Genus Orio.us.

80. OrtoLus GALBULA ; ; ; ; : : : 4 WOL WE TB SOROXT.

Go.pen OrioLe.
Although common in many parts of Europe during the breeding-season, with us it is a rare bird, and

must be included among our accidental spring visitants. In the Scilly Islands five or six are often seen

together ; but after remaining there quite unmolested for two or three weeks, they invariably betake

themselves to the mainland, where persecution and death await them. The following note from my friend