THRUSHES. 



and long slender stalks of grass, 

 five in number. 



The eggs are usually four or 



The Golden Oriole [priolus galbula) is a shy and suspicious bird, haunt- 

 ing lonely groves and thickets on the skirts of woods, excepting in the fruit 

 season, xvhen it always frequents orchards, to the no small loss of their owners. 

 It is difficult to get near these birds, though they are sometimes approached 

 by the sportsman, under the deception of his imitative whistle ; but it requires 

 great accuracy both of lips and ear to perform this fraud, for the least mistake 

 or one false note will send the bird off at once. The food of the golden oriole 

 consists of insects and their larvie, berries, and fruits, among which figs, 

 grapes, and cherries are favourites. Its whistle is loud and flute-like, Bech- 

 stein expresses the sound by the word puhlo. 



Fig. 65. — Nest of Baltimore Oriole. 



When about to construct its nest, the golden oriole selects the forked 

 extremity of the lower branch of some high tree, and wreathing the two forks 

 round with straws, grasses, and other vegetable fibres proper for the purpose, 

 at length connects the two ends ; and then, continuing the straws from one 

 side to the other, and crossing and interweaving them, forms a kind of basket, 

 •which is afterwards thickened with the stems of the finer grasses, intermixed 



