. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. THE PERCHING BIRDS 12. known as the Ox-rECKER would seem at first sight to 'c httlc to recommend it; 3'et it is one ot the benefactors of the larger African mammals, clearing them of flies and other insect-pests. Buffaloes, rhinoceroses, elephants, are alike grateful for its services, as it climbs about their huge bodies, picking oft' the liliputian enemies b)' which they are beset. ISut little appears to be known of the breeding-habits of these birds. In strong contrast to the dull
. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. THE PERCHING BIRDS 12. known as the Ox-rECKER would seem at first sight to 'c httlc to recommend it; 3'et it is one ot the benefactors of the larger African mammals, clearing them of flies and other insect-pests. Buffaloes, rhinoceroses, elephants, are alike grateful for its services, as it climbs about their huge bodies, picking oft' the liliputian enemies b)' which they are beset. ISut little appears to be known of the breeding-habits of these birds. In strong contrast to the dull-looking 0.\'-birds and Grackles. The African Glossv Starlixcs, indeed, repre- sent the most beautiful of all the members of the Starling Tribe. In one of the handsomest and best-known species — the Lox(; Glossv —metallic green and purple-\'iolet are the predominating tones in the plumage, glossed with copper reflections, and relie\'ed by black or darker bars of green and purple. In another species — the Greex Glossy Starling of East- ern Africa — the shimmer of the plumage is so wonderful that the exact shades of colour are diffi- cult to describe, in that the)' change completely, according to the light in which the bird is held. The Gragkles, or Hill-mvxas, are Indian birds, with glossy black plumage, relieved by bare flaps of yellow skin projecting backwards from the head immediately behind the eye. These birds make excellent pets, learning both to whistle and talk. We come now to the beautiful ORIOLES — birds belonging to the temperate and tropical parts of the Old World. The males, as a rule, are clad in a vestment of brilliant j'ellow and black, but in some species the under-parts are relieved by rich crimson. One species — the Golden Oriole—has on several occasions \isited the British Islands, and even in one or two instances has nested there. But, as with all brightly plumaged birds in England, no sooner is
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecad, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectzoology
