486 



AVES— ORIOLE. 



The Chinese, the Cayenne, and the Abyssinian rollers, are all distinguished 

 by the brilliancy of their plumage, but differ little in any material respect 

 f."om the preceding. 



THE ORIOLE. 



Of the oriole there appears to be only one species known in Europe ; tnat 

 is by some termed the Golden Oriole.' 1 It is the size of a thrush, and has 

 been called the golden thrush and the witwal. The head and whole body 

 of the male is of a rich yellow ; the bill red ; from that to the eye a black 

 line; the wings black, marked with a bar of yellow, as are the ends of the 

 feathers. The tail is black, with the end yellow. The body of the female 

 is a dull green, with dusky wrings and tail. The nest of this bird is of the 

 shape of a purse, and rests upon the outermost twigs of tall trees. It is 

 common in France, but has very rarely visited England. 



THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 2 



From the singularity of the nest of this species, from its brilliant color, 

 and its preferring the apple trees, weeping willows, walnut, and tulip trees 



1 Oriohis galbula, Lin. The genus Oriolus has a bill in the form of a lengthened cone, 

 horizontally compressed at the nase, and edged ; the upper mandible surmounted by a 

 ridge notched at the point ; nostrils basal, lateral, naked, and horizontally pierced in a 

 large membrane; tarsus shorter than, or of the same length as the middle toe, which is 

 ioined to the exterior one ; wings with the first quill very short, the third the longest. 



2 Oriolus Baltimore, Wilson. 



