86 BIEDS OP NORFOLK. 



were unusually numerous during their autumn migra- 

 tion, as appeared from the various notices at the time 

 of their occurrence in different parts of England; and 

 in April, 1859, when these birds and hoopoes were 

 unusually plentiful at the same time, at least thirty 

 specimens were brought to one bird preserver in Nor- 

 wich to be stuffed. Their numbers, however, in autumn 

 are generally very small compared with those that arrive 

 here in spring. 



OEIOLUS GALBULA, Linnaeus. 

 GOLDEN OEIOLE. 



This rare and beautiful species is described by the 

 Eev. E. Lubbock and Messrs. Gurney and Fisher as 

 having occurred several times in this county, and since 

 the date of their respective publications no less than 

 eight specimens have been killed in Norfolk, as recorded 

 on good authority in the " Zoologist." It is extremely 

 doubtful, I think, whether the Oriole has really been 

 known to nest in Norfolk, since, of the only two 

 recorded instances, one is undoubtedly inaccurate, and 

 the other founded merely on (e hearsay" evidence. 

 Yarrell remarks, in his f ' British Birds," " I have been 

 told that Mr. Scales, of Beechamwell, had eggs of the 

 golden oriole in his collection, which had been taken in 

 Norfolk," but Mr. Alfred Newton was assured by Mr. 

 Scales himself that the eggs here referred to were 

 brought from Holland, whilst the statement of Messrs. 

 Sheppard and Whitear amounts only to the fact of 

 their having been " informed that a pair of these birds 

 built a nest in the garden of the Eev. Mr. Lucas, 

 of Ormesby." It is not at all improbable that if un- 

 molested they might occasionally attempt to nest here, 



