Family ORIOLIDAE. 



Oriolus oriolus (L.)» — Golden Oriole. 



(Plate 7, fig. a— c). 

 (Snouckaert: Avifauna Neerlandica, p. 11, No. 12). 



Colour of surface of shell 



Colour of spots : 



Average dimensions: 

 Average weight of shell; 

 Texture of shell: 



Shape : 

 Nest: 



Site of nest: 



Number of eggs: 

 Breeding season: 

 Duration of incubation: 



white, sometimes tinged with pink. The 

 yolk gives a soft butteryellow tint to the 

 shells of full eggs, 



dark blackish brown; when lying deeper they 

 are of a violet grey appearance. Of eggs 

 tinged with pink the spots blend in a light 

 wine-red penumbra, thereby acquiring the 

 character of blotches. The uppermost spots 

 are only conglutinated very loosely with 

 the upper layer of chalk. 



30.65 X 21.37 millimetres. 



0.381 gram. 



not smooth ; often wrinkled transversely, 

 and sometimes furrowed lengthways; fairly 

 glossy. 



ovoidal. 



is built of blades of grasses, bark fibres, 

 roots, moss, feathers, wool; frequently 

 with addition of various other substan- 

 ces, such as paper, string, etc. 



by preference in young, smaller trees, mostly 

 fairly high; and far from the trunks. 



4-5. 



second half of May— June. 



about 15 days. 



