76 ORIOLUS GALBULA. 



others of a paler tint. It is said to be very bold in defending 

 its nest against intruders, and to manifest great attachment to 

 its young. 



The GoHen Oriole has occurred in several counties in 

 England, as well as in a few instances in Ireland ; but, I be- 

 lieve, no authentic case of its occurrence in Scotland has been 

 recorded. The birds in the museum of the University of Edin- 

 burgh, mentioned by Mr Selby as having furnished subjects for 

 his drawings, and as having been shot on the Pentland Hills, 

 were, to my knowledge, brought from France by the late Mr 

 Wilson, janitor of the University. 



Young. — In its first plumage this bird is of a dusky yellowish- 

 grey tint on the upper parts, each feather having the central 

 part olive-brown. The lower parts are yellowish- white, each 

 feather with a central line of brown ; the sides and lower tail- 

 coverts bright yellow ; the wings and tail brown, marked with 

 yellow, as in the adult, but of less extent. The male is easily 

 distinguished from the female by its lighter colour. 



The young are said to be difficult to rear, and not to thrive 

 well in captivity, otherwise creatures so beautiful would no 

 doubt be great favourites as cage-birds, although their natural 

 notes are loud and harsh, and their song unpleasant. 



Hemarks, — The species most nearly allied to the Golden 

 Oriole, Oriolus Galbula, are the Mango Oriole, Oriolus Mango, 

 the Yellow Oriole, Oriolus aureus, the Chinese Oriole, Oriolus 

 sinensis, and the Black-headed Oriole, Oriolus melanocephalus. 

 Whether the first of these be really distinct, I can scarcely 

 venture to affirm. It is somewhat smaller, its wings propor- 

 tionally shorter, its bill larger, but the colouring is precisely 

 similar, only there is a small black spot behind the eye, in ad- 

 dition to that on the loral space. 



