V f
Goldcn Oriole.
Oriolus Gálbulo, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 160.
Coradas Oriolus, Linn. Faun. Suec., no. 95.
-----------Gálbulo, Nilss. Ornith. Suec. p. 94.
Gálbulo, Ray, Syn., p. 68, no. 6.
Oriolus, Briss. Ora., tom. ii. p. 320.
Turdus aureus, Klein, A v , p. 66.
¡uteus, Frisch, Vog. Teutsch., pl. 31.
I t is possible that some o f my readers who are not very intimately acquainted with our native birds inav
think that I am introducing to their notice a species which does not fairly belong to our avifaunas but this
I can assure them is not the case, for the lovely bird represented on the opposite Plate (th e Oriota Gallula
o f Linmeus) has doubtless regularly visited our islands in summer from before the landing of Julies Ctesar
to the present year. To enumerate all the specimens which have been shot would fill several pages. In
Mr. Stevenson's ‘ Birds o f Norfolk,’ no less than twenty are recorded as having been captured or seen iu
that county alone; the works of Yarrell and Thompson contain many similar notices o f its occurrence in
other counties, both o f England and Irelan d ; Mr. Rodd, in his recently published ‘ List o f the Birds of
Cornwall,’ mentions several instances o f its appearance in that part o f England • the Hon Evelvn Boscawen
saw a fine male, a year o r two aso, on the terrace will at Tiv« .> rhnau: so a d ilt m tjr t> fail afamare i • ¡
had been shot on the 26th o f April 1858, was phe raf h* mv Hand*, the next dav, fit U<- 1 .eadbeater • and
were it desirable or necessary, many instances migM t» r:u<¡ o f iu hanng i0 n.lv southern ami
western counties. But, although the bird m irntius-aih f.Haiwi ¡r, Hñuitn h can only be regarded ir an
occasional visitant. since our island» do mm i*e it* 'W direct b a r ¡d it« taigratkms That tboat- mitnijtn.,1*
do so, cannot be doubted. Should any of aiv readers wish to see it in a state of nature tbev have onlv to
make a journey to the quiet town o f Leyden, and there, on any fine spring morning, they will hear the fiute-
like note o f the male, and perchance find one o f its nests among the trees growing in the very streets of
th at celebrated seat o f learning; during the summer-time it mar also be seen in everv suitable locality of
the Continent, from the shores o f the Mediterranean to Finland. Being strictly a migrant, it leaves its
African winter quarters-in April, and, after spending the summer in the more northern countries o f Europe,
returns again in September to its winter home among the Atlas range or even further south. In speaking
o f the birds,of Malta and Gozo, Mr. Wright says, “ This strikingly beautiful bird is a regular visitor in
the spring, where it arrives in small docks, and would probably breed were it not disturbed. It is wry
common sometimes in Sant’ Antonio Gardens, and is very destructive to the fruit o f the Japan medlar*
(Mespihts Japónica) , o f which it appears to be exceedingly fond. Occasionally females, probably old htfdk
are found in the brilliant plumage o f the males. A few also repass in September." Ibis, 1864, p. 69.
“ During the summer,” says Lieut. R. M. Sperling, “ this beautiful and essentially UeiSfeiPfMtm» ;v:,- .
meets the eye round the whole o f the northern coast. Migrating from Africa ab o u t th e ■ jd. . <4 i,-, ,-t „
spreads through the deep olive-woods o f Corfu, the dark earob-trees o f Maks, and i iV tfcygft km «MÍ.wyrtlr
covers of Albania and Greece. It is a shy and re tirin g bird, and generad? appear» Si
it darts through the dark-green foliage ; but, by sittin g perfectly still, 1 he.-.-;* - -»-fis-.-: v. wat<-h it«
graceful motions for half an'hour within fiye or ten r a r th o f me.”— Ibis, Iwfi í , n . S77
Mr. H. E. Dresser, who has favoured me with a short note respecting th e hint »» observed by
Finland, says, “ In the southern and eastern ports »t is very generally distributed ¡ i do apt d M it
found higher than Abo. At the couiUrr-*,*; pf friend Mr. HadcaMn (Hertmda m r H iW g i.
spent the summer o f 1856, a t least four m m m ast had n e s ts ; but S enntri «w»t « s ire rd «n kmbm ■ r. v
The Finns call this bird ‘ Kuhanke»tt-qA' mw* it* peewfaw d w d r . "
One o f the best accounts o f the habits o f the Ctohievi 6 t id e 1 have w ra w thM tvuskuteé ¿11
* Ornithologie de la Savoie,* vol. it. p. 154, of trftuk tftw Mfcwrasg it a sonflwhtti
“ In Savoy the Golden Oriole is neither seawr aav gfur'ihsnt during the fbw T tn rtr “ ninirti
with us about the 20th or 25th of April, and étywrta okumt the rad «4 \ * - •„.*
September, after which a few may o cm ia n tlb
they have all left the country. On their retan» '■
before the females, and wander alone ah.«?' ib>