Glossy-black, with metallic reflections; upper feathers tipped buff, under tipped white; light tips lost in summer; bill lemon-yellow summer, blackish winter; f., sim. Insects, caterpillars, fruit. Wheezing, whining notes. Mimic. [Page 187a] 1 3 =382^B Common Myna= (Indian, Calcutta), _Acridotheres tristis_, India, Afghanistan, V. (Introduced). Stat. v.c. _houses_ 10 Head, neck black; upper brown; under rich vinous-brown; tip-tail, large patch on wing white; about eye, bill, legs yellow; f., sim. Insects, fruit. Many notes. F. 157. EULABETIDAE (2), SHINING STARLINGS, 139 sp.--51(51)A., 20(20)O., 1(1)P., 67(67)E. F. 158. _Paramythidae_, 1 sp. A. (N.G.). F. 159. _Buphagidae_, Oxpecker, Rhinoceros-Bird, 2 sp. E. F. 160. ORIOLIDAE (4), ORIOLES, Fig-Birds, 70 sp.--27(27)A., 29(26)O., 3(0)P., 15(14)E. 1 12 =383* Olive-backed Oriole=, Green Thrush (e), _Mimetes sagittata (Oriolus viridis)_, E.A., N.W.A. Stat. r. _open forest_ 11.5 Upper yellowish olive-green; wings, tail brown, tipped white; under whitish, streaked black; bill flesh-red; eyes scarlet; variable in color; f., sim. Insects, fruit. "Or-ree-ee-oale." Mimic. F. 161. DICRURIDAE (1), DRONGOS, 73 sp.--24(23)A., 39(38)O., 11(11)E. 1 29 =384* Spangled Drongo=, Drongo-Shrike, King-Crow, _Dicruropsis (Chibia, Dicrurus) bracteata_, N.G., N. Ter., E.A., N.W.A., T. (acc.). Nom. r. _timber_ 12.2 Black glossed, spotted green; spotted white under wing; f., sim. Insects. Noisy, harsh peculiar notes. F. 162. PARADISEIDAE (4), BIRDS OF PARADISE, Rifle-Bird, 70 sp. A. ==== Order XXI. (continued) Mr. A. J. North, C.M.B.O.U., the ornithologist of the Australian Museum, Sydney, and one of the greatest of living Australian ornithologists, has declared that "without exception, the bower-building birds of Australia are the most extraordinary and interesting group of birds found in the world." These wonderful birds construct, apart from their nests, play-houses--structures that "are perfectly anomalous in the architecture of birds." Gould considered the accounts of the "extraordinary habits" of the Bower Birds "as some of the valuable and interesting portions" of his work. Though the bird was known before Gould's time, its "extraordinary habits had never been brought before the scientific world until I (Gould) had the gratification of publishing an account of them after my return from Australia."