1(54 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



which in Marocco appear to be the favourite resort of the species, are 

 few and far between in any part of Tunisia. At certain seasons, 

 particularly when several of these birds collect together, they are 

 very noisy and quarrelsome, and may be heard chattering at a con- 

 siderable distance; but owing to the fact of their frequenting, as 

 a rule, thickly foliaged trees and shrubs, they are not very often 

 seen. The song of the Bulbnl is decidedly pleasing, being composed 

 of some remarkably rich and clear notes like " tit-ivot-tcof-tit-tif," 

 which cannot fail to attract attention. The breeding season of this 

 species is rather late, being in May and June. The bird selects a 

 fork in a low tree or high bush as a site for its nest, which is gener- 

 ally composed of small roots and dry grass. The eggs, three or four 

 in number, are of a dull white, with grey shell markings and reddish- 

 brown surface spots. Average measurements 24 x 18 mm. 



A male specimen of P. barbatus (No. 3,818), obtained at Nice 

 in December, 1899, is to be found in the Italian Collection of the 

 Royal Florence Museum. 



Family OKIOLID^. 



ORIOLUS GALBULA, Linnteus. 



GOLDEN ORIOLE. 



Oriolus galbula, Linn. Si/st. Nat. i, p. 160 (1766) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds 

 JU-it. Mas. lii, p. lyi ; Malhcrhe, Cat. Rais. tVOis. Alg. p. 9 (1816) ; 

 Loche, E.vpl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 54 (1867) ; Koenig, J . f. 0. 1888, p. 

 171 ; id. J. f. 0. 1892, p. 370 ; Wliitalwr, Ibis, 1895, p. 96 ; Etlanger, 

 J. f. 0. 1899', p. 488. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Tunis, North Tunisia. 



Entire plumage, with the exception of the lores, wings and tail, bright 

 golden-yellow ; lores and wings jet black, but the primaries and secondaries 

 are tipped and fringed with yellowish-white, the primary coverts tipped 

 with pale yellow, forming an alar patch, and the edge of the wing is yellow ; 

 the central pair of rectrices jet-black, the remaining tail-feathers black at 

 the base and yellow on the terminal portion. 



Iris reddish ; bill reddish-brown ; feet lead-colour. 



Total length, 9-50 inches, wing 5-90, culmen 1, tarsus -90. 



Adult female, spring, from Tunis, North Tunisia. 



