58 GOLDEN ORIOLE. 



GOLDEN ORIOLE. 



PLATE 'CV. 

 Oriolns galbula, PENNANT. MONTAGU. BEWICK. 



rriHE nest is flat in shape, and placed in the angle 

 -*- formed by the branching boughs of a tall tree, 

 to which it is firmly attached. It is made of stalks of 

 grass, small roots, and wool, cleverly interwoven 

 together, and is lined with the finer portions of the 

 materials. One taken in Kent, is described by J. B. 

 Ellman, Esq., of Rye, in the, 'Zoologist,' page 2496, 

 as having been suspended from the extreme end of 

 the topmost bough of an oak tree, and composed entirely 

 of wool, carefully bound together with dried grass. 



The eggs are commonly four or five in number, 

 of a clear white colour, sometimes with a tinge of purple, 

 and a few spots of black, brownish black, or grey, 

 and claret-colour. 



One of a greyish white, speckled with small 

 brown spots. 



A second is also whitish, with large dark brown spots. 



A third is grounded with pale white, with some 

 small and large spots all over. 



Edwin Cottingham, Esq., of Bexley, has obliged 

 me with a drawing of the eggs; and Henry Saxby, 

 Esq., of Bonchurch, Isle of Wight, with another. J. 

 R. Wise, Esq., of Lincoln College, Oxford, with a 

 specimen of the egg itself. 



