138 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



that ; but it is so very rare that very few specimens have been 

 seen in this country, and that is the golden oriole. Come and 

 show me where it was at once, before I go to Mr. Meredith's." 



Mary was nothing loath, and they hastily finished their 

 breakfast and went out together. Scarcely had they got to 

 the orchard when the gardener came towards them with a gun 

 in one hand, and a dead oriole in the other. " I thought you 

 would like to have him to stuff, Master Frank," said the man, 

 and Frank took the bird and thanked him, and when they 

 turned away Frank said, 



OKIOLE 



" I am awfully sorry this has happened, Mary. The idea of 

 shooting a rare bird like this at the breeding season. It must 

 have been nesting here, and in a few weeks perhaps, there 

 would have been a brood of young ones about. Let us go 

 into the wood and look for its nest." 



In a short time they saw its mate flying about from tree to 

 tree, calling piteously ; and after a little hunting Frank found 

 a nest, which was like a missel thrush's, and placed in the fork 

 of an oak branch. It contained four eggs, white in colour, 



