ORIOLUS. 505 



others progressively less black and more yellow, the outermost 

 feather almost entirely yellow, the black being confined to the base 

 of the outer web ; wings black, all the quills tipped and partially 

 margined with yellow ; basal third of primary-coverts black, 

 remainder yellow. 



Fi male. Differs from the male in having the back and scapulars 

 tinged with green. 



Iris maroon-red ; bill brownish flesh-colour ; legs and feet 

 bluish-slate (Butler}. 



Length about JK"> ; tail 3'6 ; wing 5-5 ; tarsus -9 ; bill from 

 gape 1'4. 



Distribution. The whole of India, from Kashmir and the Hima- 

 layas (up to 9000 feet) to Cape Comorin, and from Sind to 

 Western Bengal, the furthest point to the east from which this 

 species is recorded being Manbhoom. 



This Oriole is a permanent resident in the plains and lower 

 ranges of the Himalayas, and a summer visitor to Kashmir and the 

 higher ranges. It extends into Afghanistan and Turkestan, but 

 visits the latter country only in summer. 



Habits, tyc. Breeds from May to August, constructing a cradle- 

 like nest of grass and strips of bark, which is suspended by the 

 sides from the fork of a leafy branch of a large tree. The eggs, 

 three or four in number, are white, spotted with black or reddish 

 brown, and measure about I'll by '81. 



519. Oriolus galbula. The European Oriole. 



Oriolus galbula, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 160 (1766) ; Hume, 8. F. i, 

 p. 182 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. iii, p. 191 ; Hume, 8. F. vii, p. 387 ; 

 id. Cat. no. 470 bis ; Murray, Vert. Zool. Sind, p. 130 ; Barnes, 

 Birds Bom. p. 194. 



Coloration. Resembles 0. kundoo. Differs in having the black 

 on the head confined to the lores only and in having more black 

 on the tail, the outermost feather being black on fully its basal 

 half. 0. f/albula has also a longer wing. 



Bill dull reddish ; iris blood-red ; legs lead-grey (Dresser). 



Length about 10 ; tail 3*7 ; wing 6 ; tarsus -9 ; bill from gape 

 1-3. 



Dresser states that the adult female differs considerably in plu- 

 mage from the male, but there is nothing in the British-Museum 

 series of this bird which lends support to this statement. The 

 male and female appear to differ in exactly the same particulars 

 as do the sexes of 0. kundoo. 



Distribution. A rare visitor to Sind in the autumn and winter. 

 This Oriole is largely spread over Europe and Africa and portions 

 of Western Asia. 



520. Oriolus xanthonotus. The Malay Black-headed Oriole. 



Oriolus xanthonotus, Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii, p. 152 (1821) j 

 id. Zool. Ees. Java, pi. ; Blyth, Cat. p. 215 ; Horsf. $ M. Cat. 



