238 MERULID^E. 



ORIOLUS. Generic Characters. The form of the beak is that of an 

 elongated cone, but slightly depressed at the base; upper mandible ridged 

 above, notched at the point. Nostrils basal, lateral, naked, pierced hori- 

 zontally in an extended membrane. Wings of moderate size, with the 

 first feather short ; the second feather not so long as the third, which is 

 the longest in the wing. Feet with three toes in front, one behind ; tarsi 

 shorter or only as long as the middle toe ; the outer toe joined at its base 

 to the middle toe. 



LIKE the Ring Ouzel, though much more rare, the 

 Golden Oriole is also a summer visitor to Britain, an 

 occasional straggler being now and then obtained, but al- 

 ways between spring and autumn. This bird makes its 

 annual visit to the European continent from the countries 

 south of the Mediterranean in the month of April, and re- 

 turns in September. It is in April that a specimen is some- 

 times obtained on our southern coast ; and from those that 

 pass over France and Germany in a north-western direc- 

 tion, an example is occasionally procured in the maritime 

 counties of our eastern coast. 



Very little is known of the habits of the Golden Oriole 

 in this country ; but greater facilities for observation occur 

 on the Continent, and in Italy particularly these birds are 

 common. 



Bechstein says, they generally frequent lonely groves, or 

 the skirts of forests, always keeping among the most bushy 

 trees, so that it is rarely seen on a naked branch. They 

 always frequent orchards in the fruit season. M. Vieillot 

 also says that they frequent wooded countries, are shy and 

 difficult to approach. These birds, he says, are sometimes 

 deceived by an expert sportsman, who advances towards 

 them whistling their note ; but the ear of the bird is so 

 correct that a single mistake, or false note, made in the 

 imitation of his song, is a sufficient hint to the bird, 

 and he takes wing instantly. Mr. Swainson, speaking 

 of the habits of the Orioles generally, says, they live in 



