The JAMAICA YELLOW BIRD, or SOFFRE (_Icterus Jamacaii_), is one of the
most beautiful members of this family, found, as its name implies, in
the islands of the West Indies, but likewise abounding in Brazil and
Guiana. In this species the head, throat, back, and neck are black,
the nape and lower portion of the body bright orange. A portion of
the hinder secondary quills is edged with white underneath, and the
small wing-covers are marked with orange at the shoulder; the lower
wing-covers are of a paler yellow. The beak is brilliant black, with a
lead-coloured spot upon the lower mandible; the feet are of a blueish
flesh colour, the eyes light yellow; the ophthalmic region is bare, and
of a greenish hue; the coat of the female is lighter than that of her
mate, and the young birds are of a still paler tint; the beak of the
latter is brown, the feet pale yellowish brown, and the wings edged
with broad grey lines. The length of this bird is about ten inches, its
breadth thirteen, and the wing and tail four and a half inches.
[Illustration: THE COW STARLING (_Molothrus pecoris_).]
All observers who have seen this magnificent species in its wild state
speak of it with enthusiasm. The Prince von Wied describes it as looking
like a flashing flame as it darts hither and thither amongst the dark
foliage; its movements are lively and elegant, and its voice so flexible
as to be capable of imitating the songs of many other birds. The depths
of the forests afford these brilliant creatures the shelter they prefer,
and thither they resort in pairs during the period of incubation; at
other seasons of the year they fly about in small parties, which subsist
principally upon insects or various kinds of fruit, and do great damage
to the orange and banana trees. We learn from the same author that
he found the nest of a Yellow Bird woven between the branches of a
tree and hanging some eight or nine feet above the ground; the little
structure was formed of small twigs, and in shape resembled a ball,
the entrance being through a hole in the side. Schomburghk tells us
that the wooded banks of the rivers resound morning and evening with
the melodious but plaintive notes of this sweet songster, and that it
is sought after by the settlers for purposes of domestication, though
its life in confinement is but of short duration: this writer adds that
the Yellow Bird becomes so tame in Brazil, that its cage may be kept
open without any danger of its returning to its native haunts; but in
this statement we can by no means agree, our own observations having
led us to a contrary opinion; such as we have seen in captivity have
almost invariably proved themselves to be very untamable, falling upon
and destroying the nest or young of other birds, and domineering over
the larger species of Starlings and Thrushes with so much violence as
to ensure to themselves undisputed possession of the food or sleeping
perch, as none of their companions dared to approach until the wants of
these tyrants of the aviary were satisfied: to the keepers alone they
showed the more amiable side of their character, and were so shy before
strangers as to refuse to sing if the listener was not concealed from
view.