THE ORIOLE. 43 



Notes that to other birds belong, 



Thou minglest with thy own sweet song; 



Harps that the wayward breezes sweep, 



Alone such varying music keep. 



Whence is the changeful harmony, 



That flows, sweet western bird, from thee? 



Thou dost not mock, but copiest well 

 The warblers that around thee dwell; 

 And when the traveller near thee strays, 

 Thou giv'st him freely all thy lays; 



For this, a pilgrim's blessing be, 



Bird of a thousand songs, on thee ! 



ORDER PASSERES. 



The Oriole Loriot, or Golden Thrush. 



Oriolus Galbula. 



THIS bird is a little larger than a blackbird. It 

 passes the autumn and winter in the warm cli- 

 mate of Africa, and comes into Europe in the 

 spring. It is not often seen in England, but in 

 France it is very abundant. It arrives there 

 about the middle of spring, and stays all the 

 summer. At first it feeds on caterpillars and 

 insects, completely clearing the trees on which it 

 alights of these destructive little creatures ; but 

 as soon as the figs and cherries are ripe, it at- 



