_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
ORIOLUS FLAVOCINCTUS.
Crescent-marked Oriole.
_Mimetes flavo-cinctus_, King, Survey of Intertropical Coasts of
Australia, vol. ii. p. 419.—Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen.
Zool., vol. xiv. p. 351.
_Mimeta flavo-cincta_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
327.
This species was discovered on the north coast of Australia by Captain
Philip Parker King, R.N., who described it in his “Survey of the
Intertropical Coasts of Australia,” referred to above; Mr. Gilbert
procured two specimens at Port Essington, and Lieut. Ince, R.N.,
subsequently obtained an additional example in the same locality. All
the information that has reached me respecting its habits and economy is
contained in a short note sent to me by Mr. Gilbert, which merely states
that his specimens were obtained in the forests of mangroves bordering
the coast.
Like the _O. viridis_ it is in every respect a true Oriole, although
neither of them are so gaily attired as the other members of the genus.
The male has the head, neck and all the upper surface dull greenish
yellow, with a stripe of black, broad at the base and tapering to a
point, down the centre of each feather; under surface greenish yellow,
passing into pure yellow on the under tail-coverts; wings black, all the
feathers margined externally with greenish yellow and broadly tipped
with pale yellow; tail black, washed on the margins with greenish yellow
and largely tipped, except the two middle feathers, with bright yellow,
which increases in extent as the feathers recede from the centre; irides
reddish orange; bill dull red; feet lead-colour.
The female differs in being of smaller size, in having the under surface
striated with black, and the markings of the wings straw-white instead
of yellow.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the size of life.
[Illustration: