GOLDEN ORIOLE.
ORIOLUS GALBVLA.
THOUGH abundant in same parts of the continent, and formerly of more frequent occurrence in the
British Islands, this species is now only a rare visitor to our shores, and the reception given to those
that make their appearance renders n lengthened stay almost an impossibility. Several pairs have been
known to nest during the last thirty years; but the numbers of these summer residents have lately deeroased,
and (lie majority of their old liannts are now entirely deserted. From personal observation, I can say
but little concerning these attractive arid interesting birds, about half a dozen specimens being all that
Lave come under my notice.
In the summer of 1832, a pair of Golden Orioles constructed their carefully built cradle in a largo
garden near Norwich, and an egg I was enabled to obtain from this nest still remains in my |iossession.
The bright-coloured male proved exceedingly mindful concerning his own safety, though occasionally
showing himself more conspicuously ¡11 early morning shortly after daybreak. The nest was placed among
the dense foliage on the wide-spreading and drooping limbs of a weeping ash, at the height of about,
ten or twelve feet from the ground. On April 12th, 1851, I caught sight of a male ami female Hying
across the garden at CutsuYhl House, near Battle, in Sussex, and noticed them alighting for a few
minutes in a large bushy thorn tree. Though a careful watch was kept aruund the adjacent woods and
plantations by all our keepers and gardeners for several days, in order to learu if the strangers had
taken up their quarters in the district, wo could gain no further tidings concerning their movements.
For over twenty years I never obtained a glimpse of an Oriole, and it was not till the 18th of
April, 1S72, while driving between Shoreham and Lancing, that a line male was observed in the net of
lierching on the thorn-hedge along the old road running close to the coast-line and now partly washed
away by the encroachment of the sea. The bird shortly moved on and kept steadily making his way
from the west towards the cast; after a Sight of a hundred yards or so bo would settle again 011 the
hedge, Though repeatedly disturbed by carts and persons on foot, be stil! held a line along the coast,
returning, after having lieen diverted from the course be followed, by a short circuit to the quick-sct bilbo
roadside, and again resuming his journey towards llie east. After following and watching his movements
for over a mile, I got a chance for an easy shot, and obtained this very handsome wanderer as a
specimen.
During the neit few years, though none came under my own observation, two or three males
were seen and a couple shot within half a dozen miles of Brighton. One of these was followed by a
friend, who thought I wanted a specimen of a male, for several hours about the hedges near Bhiichington,
while he sent a message to summon me to the spot. Being absent on the downs between
Falmcr and Lewes, I only learned too late what had occurred; and a day or two after, the bird mi
shot by a policeman and, after having been brought up lor my Inspection, was sold to a dealer, The