The Thrush Tribe. 61 



curious purse or saucer-shaped nest is generally placed 

 in a forked branch, or suspended from it by two 

 handles like a basket. It is made of grass-stems 

 interwoven with sheep's wool or moss, so as to be 

 strong and warm. The male Oriole is a very beautiful 

 bird, about the size of a Blackbird, of a deep golden 

 yellow, with black wings, and black and yellow tail, 

 the centre feathers of the tail being black with yellow 

 tips, and the others yellow with the lower part black. 

 There is a dark stripe across the eye, and the iris is 

 red, the legs are lead-coloured, and the claws black. 

 The female and young male are of a dusky green ; the 

 adult male often becomes, in confinement, black and 

 greenish-yellow instead of golden. They are very shy 

 and timorous birds ; found in lonely spots and in 

 thick forests. They feed chiefly on insects and grubs, 

 but are fond of cherries, figs, and grapes in the 

 autumn. 



They have a loud flute-like note, and are supposed 

 to speak very articulately various words, from which 

 they have derived their names of Oriole, Turiole, 

 Loriot, Pirol, Billow, etc. They are said to be capable 

 of being taught to whistle if brought up from the nest. 

 They must be fed on ants' eggs and bullock's heart, 

 or cooked meat finely minced, or the ordinary Night- 

 ingale's food. They do not live very long in captivity, 

 and the young birds brought up from the nest never 

 acquire the full plumage. They are very restless birds 



