CMUbnajicUC.
& O L B E M O R I O L E .
Orioliis Gálbula, fZzrvn/J.
ORIOL US.
I. Beak conical » straight, and sharp-pointed. lîaf.i oned at its base; upper mandible
I and slightly notched at the point. N m tr ib bs!ise|.. lateral, naked, and pierced botfly
in a large membrane. Beet three txww Indore and one behind, the external toe
i to the middle one at its base-. Tarsus not' exceeding the middle toe in length ; third
eat her the longest-
GOLDEN. ORIOLE.
and tiie contrast of their colours, rich yellow and deep black divining the plumage in proportions .varying
according to the difference of species ; and there is [ivo genus die members of which are more naturally united
p P Orioles are ^rictìy ormftncd jfotfions of the globe ; various species being
respectively disposed over Asía«, A trico, the iufjnds of the Indian Archipelago, and' the southern and eastern
portions of Europe. Their plaice in America appears to lie supplied' by the /eteri and the other genera of the
femilv of Slurnid<e.
H I Goldei i Oriole is to be considered as merely an occasional sojourner io England, its visits being bn1 few
a«l only during the months of summer. Although, undoubtedly source, it is by 110 means the most rare < f
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 pari of our island with its residence, it were permitted
to reiíiáin unmolested. In Italy and the whole of the southern provinces of Europe it is ver, abundant, imi
i» ateo lar 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 parta, we have reason to supjwse it migrates when atemue during
the winter months from Europe. We have a-?,v.i*rroeelv-éd this identical species from India, although there is
one, the 0 . aureus, which closely fcs %y &«t which may at once be distinguished bv its rather
smaller. size, and by the black line, passing ^ .heym«! the eye, while in the'. European ' specie* the
black colour reaches onlyifo the anterior edge <?i Tine .Ai bit, 'We have béri* informed that this latter specif ~
has also been found in Europe, whfeb is not unlikely, as the border line of the two continents is merely cpè'-'
veottoiial.
'fisc nor of the Golden Oriate» like' thwt |Ì ow»y of ilfei, natives. of .the tropical chroates, is ¿ oírik
example of ingenuity : it is composed of fthsvs of terifep or other vegetaldes 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 ami fruits, as well as insects and their larva;.
In the male, the beak is brownish red ; irides red; generai plumage fine king’s yellow, a black streak
intervening between (he beak and eye ; the wings black with a bar of yellow; all the qtdli-feathera tipped
with yellowish white; the two middle twl-feathcrs black ; the rest have their basal half black, aiid the other
portion yellow'; tarsi lead-colour ; clan?» Mack. Length of the bird ten inches.
In the l’emide, the yellow of the upper parts is clouded with am oltve 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 blarikhVthe male, are obscure olive.
- The young ttf the veor resemble the female, Wt bttve d'e longifeudituil markings of the lower ffirtii'ilffini'iji. i «
the ¡rides brew«, and beak of a dark grivy>
Our Plate represents a male and feuiale of the natural size.