Genus ORIOLUS.

Gen. Cuar. Beak conical, straight, and sharp-pointed, flattened at its base; u pper mandible
ridged and slightly notched at the point. Vostrzls basal, lateral, naked, and pierced hori-
zontally in a large membrane. eet three toes before and one behind, the external toe
united to the middle one at its base. Tarsus not exceeding the middle toe in length; third

guill-feather the longest.

GOLDEN ORIOLE.

Oriolus galbula, Linn.

Le Loriot.

Tur genus Oriolus, as restricted by modern authors, comprises a group of birds pre-eminent for their beauty
and the contrast of their colours, rich yellow and deep black dividing the plumage in proportions varying
according to the difference of species ; and there is no genus the members of which are more naturally united
to each other than the present.

The Orioles are strictly confined to the older or longest known portions of the globe ; various species being
respectively disposed over Asia, Africa, the islands of the Indian Archipelago, and the southern and eastern
portions of Europe. Their place in America appears to be supplied by the Jcteri and the other genera of the
family of Sturnde.

The Golden Oriole is to be considered as merely an occasional sojourner in England, its visits being but few,
and only during the months of summer. Although undoubtedly scarce, it is by no means the most rare of
those birds which, from their occurrence in England, have been admitted to a place in its Fauna. We are not
aware that there are any instances on record of its breeding in this country: still we have reason to suppose
that such would be the case, if, when it favours any part of our island with its residence, it were permitted
to remain unmolested. In Italy and the whole of the southern provinces of Europe it is very abundant, and
is also far from being uncommon in France, Holland, Germany, and some of the districts of Russia ; paying all
those countries an annual visit, for the purpose of incubation. We have received numerous specimens of this
bird from Tripoli and the whole line of the northern coast of Africa, where it is exceedingly common ; and to
which country, or at least its more northern parts, we have reason to suppose it migrates when absent during
the winter months from Kurope. We have never received this identical species from India, although there is
one, the O. aureus, which closely approximates to it, but which may at once be distinguished by its rather
smaller size, and by the black line passing through and beyond the eye, while in the European species the
black colour reaches only to the anterior edge of the orbit. We have been informed that this latter species
has also been found in Kurope, which is not unlikely, as the border line of the two continents is merely con-
ventional.

The nest of the Golden Oriole, like that of many of the natives of the tropical climates, is a striking
example of ingenuity : it is composed of fibres of hemp or other vegetables ingeniously interwoven together,
lined with fine moss or lichen, and suspended at the extremity of the tallest branches of lofty trees; the eggs
are four or five in number, the ground-colour being a pure white, marked by a few well-defined purple brown,
or black spots. Its food consists of wild berries and fruits, as well as insects and their larve.

In the male, the beak is brownish red; irides red; general plumage fine king’s yellow, a black streak
intervening between the beak and eye ; the wings black with a bar of yellow ; all the quill-feathers tipped
with yellowish white; the two middle tail-feathers black ; the rest have their basal half black, and the other
portion yellow ; tarsi lead-colour ; claws black. Length of the bird ten inches.

In the female, the yellow of the upper parts is clouded with an olive tinge, and below with grayish white,
each feather having a longitudinal mark of a darker colour ; the wings are brownish black, and the tail-feathers,
where black in the male, are obscure olive.

The young of the year resemble the female, but have the longitudinal markings of the lower parts stronger ;
the irides brown, and beak of a dark gray.

Our Plate represents a male and female of the natural size,