. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders : with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . Birds; Reptiles. THE EOSE-COLOUEBD OUZEL. 555 The Isle of Bourbon was at one time so infested with locusts that it threatened to become uninhabitable. The idea was enter- tained of introducing some Minos, and these birds multiplied so fast that in a few j-ears the jjests liad disappeared. Unfortunately, the services of the Minos had to be paid for dearly, for they showed a pendtant for fruit, and made great havoc among the cherries, mulberry trees, &c. W
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders : with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . Birds; Reptiles. THE EOSE-COLOUEBD OUZEL. 555 The Isle of Bourbon was at one time so infested with locusts that it threatened to become uninhabitable. The idea was enter- tained of introducing some Minos, and these birds multiplied so fast that in a few j-ears the jjests liad disappeared. Unfortunately, the services of the Minos had to be paid for dearly, for they showed a pendtant for fruit, and made great havoc among the cherries, mulberry trees, &c. When insects became scarce they even attacked the cereals and other Fig. 257.—Tlie Mino Bird {Graci/lareligioba^ Liiin.). These Passerines readily habituate themselves to confinement, and in a short time become as tame as Starlings. Like these birds, too, they possess the talent of remembering and repcating words and various cries. Thej^ inhabit Africa, Asia., and Java. In their migrations they sometimes visit the southern countries of Europe ; but they are rarely seen in France. The HoxET-suuKERS {Meliphagidce) are remarkable for having a thin tuft of hair at the end of their tongue, and for the fleshj- pendants which adorn the beaks of some species. Their i)lumage is in general brilliant, and ornamented with tufts or collars. The voice of some kinds is very melodious, but little or nothing- is known of their habits. "We now come to the Rose-colouiied Ouzel, which is called in France Merle Rose, because it combines the shape of the Blackbird with a breast and back of a lovelv rose Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894; Gillmore, Parker. New York : D. Appleton
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectrep
