71 



ORIOLUS. ORIOLE. 



Bill rather long, stout, nearly straight, rather broad at the 

 base, compressed towards the end ; the upper mandible having 

 the dorsal line slightly arched, the ridge narrow, the sides flat 

 and sloping at the base, slightly convex and more inclined 

 towards the end, the edges sharp, with a slight notch close to 

 the small, slightly decurved tip ; the lower mandible with the 

 angle of moderate length and rather narrow, the sides nearly 

 erect, the edges sharp, the dorsal line nearly straight. 



Mouth of moderate width. Tongue slender, emarginate and 

 papillate at the base, thin and horny towards the tip, which is 

 bifid. 



Eyes of moderate size. Eyelids feathered. Nostrils oblong, 

 in the anterior part of the large nasal membrane, which is 

 feathered. 



Head oblong, of moderate size, the forehead slightly rounded. 

 Neck rather short. Body ovate, compact. Legs rather strong, 

 short : tarsus short, compressed, covered anteriorly with seven 

 large scutella, posteriorly with two plates united at a very 

 acute angle, and several transverse rugae below. Toes of mo- 

 derate size, covered above with a few large scutella, papillate 

 beneath ; the first stout, of about the same length as the second, 

 the fourth a little longer, united at the base to the third, which 

 is considerably longer. Claws of moderate length, arched, 

 compressed, laterally grooved, acute ; that of the hind toe 

 much stronger. 



Plumage generally blended, the feathers oblong and rounded. 

 Short bristles at the base of the bill. Wings rather long, of 

 nineteen quills ; the first primary very short, being scarcely half 

 the length of the third, which is longest ; the second shorter 

 than the fourth. The secondary quills of moderate length, 

 broad and rounded. Tail rather long, straight, slightly rounded, 

 of twelve rather broad, rounded feathers. 



