MERULIDE. Ta 
counties of England: several specimens have been 
killed in Devonshire and Cornwall. It has also 
been known to breed in England, though rarely: it 
would probably do so more regularly if unmolested ; 
but its beautifully bright plumage renders it very 
conspicuous, and hence eagerly sought after by 
collectors of birds; its feathers are also much in 
request by ladies for hats. 
The nest is said to be placed in the forked bough 
of a tree: it is formed of sheep’s wool and long 
slender stems of grass. 
According to M. Prevost’s list, this bird must be 
very mischievous in the garden; but, on account of 
its extreme scarcity, it is not at all likely to disturb 
the equanimity of our gardeners, so I shall not take 
up space by quoting the somewhat long list of its 
misdemeanours. At the same time I may observe 
that, as in the case of many other birds, the list of 
itsservices is very nearly as long. 
The male Golden Oriole is not likely to be passed 
by without being immediately recognised by the most 
unobservant: the female, however, not being quite 
so brilliant, might possibly escape recognition. ‘The 
following description is taken from Meyer’s ‘ British 
Birds’ :-—“‘ The entire body of the male is brilliant 
yellow, including the head, neck and tippet, the breast 
and all the under parts; the wings and tail are black, 
with the exception of the tips of the spurious wing- 
feathers, which are yellow, and the terminal portion 
H 
