40 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Genus ORIOLUS L. 



Oriolus Linnseus, Syst. Nat., ed. xn, i, p. 160 (1766 — ^Type by 

 tautonymy (Goracias oriolus 1758 = Orioliis galhvla). 



In the genus Oriolus the lores are feathered. For characters 

 see under family. Only one species in Europe, many in Africa, 

 others in India and East-Indian Archipelago to Australia. 



ORIOLUS ORIOLUS 



15. Oriolus oriolus oriolus (L.)— THE GOLDEN ORIOLE. 



CoEACiAS Oriolus Linnseus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 107 (175S— Europe, 



Asia. Restricted typical locality : Sweden). 



Oriolus galhida Linnseus, Yarrell, i, p. 233 ; Saunders, p. 145. 



Description. — Adult male. Winter. — ^Lores black ; rest of body- 

 plumage bright golden-yellow, generally ^ith few (occasionally 

 good many) feathers of mantle and scapulars and few under wing- 

 coverts and upper tail-coverts slightly marked black ; tail velvety- 

 black tinged yellow at base, central pair narrowly tipped yellow, 

 rest Mith distal half or third yellow ; primaries velvety-black, 

 tipped yello\\isli-white, inner webs fringed grey and outer webs 

 of 3rd to 5tli fringed Avhitish on distal half ; secondaries velvety- 

 black with broader yellowish-^^hite tips ; primary-coverts velvety- 

 black Avith broad pale yelloA\- tips forming distinct yellow patch ; 

 greater, median, and lesser coverts velvety-black, innermost 

 partially yellow. This plumage is acquired by complete moult 

 in autumn. Summer. — ^No moult and no noticeable change by 

 abrasion. 



Adult fernale. Winter and summer. — Crown, ear-coverts, sides 

 of neck, mantle, scapulars, and back golden-green ; rump and 

 upper taU-coverts greenish-yellow ; lores greyish-black ; throat 

 and upper-breast ashy-grey, faintly streaked dark brown ; lower- 

 breast and belly yellowish-white, more boldly streaked ; flanks 

 greenish-yellow lightly streaked ; under tail-coverts, axillaries, 

 and under wing-coverts bright yellow ; tail as in male but browner, 

 strongly tinged yellow and with smaller yellow tips ; primaries 

 and secondaries brown, edged and tipped greyish-white, and inner 

 secondaries tinged green; primary-coverts black-brown, tipped 

 pale yellow ; greater and median coverts brown, tinged green ; 

 lesser rather darker brown and more distinctly tipped green. 

 N.B. — Occasionally females are yellow on under-parts lightly 

 streaked brownish-green, and with crown and rump bright greenish- 

 yellow. 



Nestling. — (Not examined.) 



Juvenile. — Much as adult female but feathers of cro^^n, mantle, 

 back, and wing-coverts with pale yellow tips, under-parts with 

 browner and less distinct streaks, under tail-coverts paler 3'^eUow. 



