ii8 A BOOK OF BIRDS 



FAMILY ORIOLIDyE (Orioles) 



As to the exact relationship of the beautiful Golden Oriole 

 (Plate XXV. fig. 6) but little that is profitable can here be set down. 

 Suffice it to say, that it may as well be described here as anywhere 

 else. 



This bird is one of the most beautiful of birds, and, but for the 

 greed of the senseless *' collector," might possibly be induced to 

 breed in Great Britain — it has already done so on more than one 

 occasion. It is an annual visitor during the spring to Cornwall and 

 the Scilly Islands, where as many as forty have been seen in a single 

 April. Our southern and eastern counties are also visited. The 

 female is a rather soberly coloured bird, being of a dull green colour 

 above, while the under parts are streaked with grey. 



The nest of the Golden Oriole is a very beautiful structure made 

 of bark, wool, and grass-stems cunningly woven together and sus- 

 pended beneath the fork of some small branch of a tree. It feeds 

 chiefly on insects, but fruit is also eaten. 



FAMILY STURNIDjE (Starlings) 



The Common Starling (Plate XXX. fig. 4) belongs to a family 

 which is peculiar to the Old World, and it will probably be found, 

 on further research, to be a relative of the Golden Oriole. This bird 

 is plentifully distributed over the British Islands, and when fully 

 adult and in summer dress is an extremely beautiful species, the 

 feathers having a wonderful metallic gloss. The new feathers, 

 assumed after the autumn moult, are tipped with white, and it is 

 by the loss of these tips that the summer livery is gained. The young 

 birds are of an ash-brown colour, and totally unlike their parents. 



Starlings lay their eggs in holes or the hollow trunks of trees, 

 making but little pretence at nest-building. 



FAMILY CINCLID/E (Dippers) 



Among the more remarkable of our British Birds the Dipper 

 (Plate XXV. fig. 5) holds a conspicuous position. In shape looking 



