THE GOLDEN ORIOLE. 41 



First winter and summer. Male. Upper-parts as in adult 

 female but rather more yellow ; throat ashy-grey, tinged yellow ; 

 upper-breast yellowish-green, faintly streaked brown ; lower- 

 breast, belly, and flanks yellow, faintly streaked on flanks and 

 sides brown ; tail browner-black than in adult male and with 

 rather smaller yellow tips ; wings more like adult female but 

 rather darker and with less green tinge, and wing-coverts with 

 pale tips. The juvenile body-plumage is moulted in autumn 

 but apparently not wing- and tail-feathers and wing-coverts. 

 N.B. Some males like adults but more greenish on upper-parts 

 and with light greenish streaks on under-parts and less glossy- 

 black wings and tail may be second-winter birds. They are like 

 the very bright females noted above. 



First winter and summer. Female. Like adult female but 

 upper-parts more olive-, less golden-, green ; ear-coverts brownish ; 

 breast and belly less yellowish and more strongly streaked black- 

 brown ; wing-coverts distinctly tipped greenish-yellow. 



Measurements and structure. g wing 150-161 mm., tail 77-85, 

 tarsus 21-24, bill from feathers 22-26 (12 measured). ? wing 

 146-157. Primaries : 1st about double primary-coverts and 

 about half (or less) 2nd, 3rd longest, 2nd 8-12mm. shorter, 4th 

 1-6 shorter, 5th 14-23 shorter ; 3rd and 4th clearly emarginated 

 outer webs. Longest secondary equals 10th primary. Tail 

 almost square, slightly rounded laterally. Bill wide at base, taper- 

 ing to point ; slightly hooked. A few rictal bristles. 



Soft parts. Bill dark pink (young $ browner) ; legs and feet 

 dark slate ; iris dark crimson (young y dark brown). 



CHARACTERS AND ALLIED FORMS. In 0. o. kundoo (India, 

 Turkestan) male has patch of black behind eyes, primary-coverts 

 and tail-feathers (except central pair) mostly yellow with only 

 bases black; female has more yellow under-parts, more yellow 

 on primary-coverts and tail, and greener secondaries and wing- 

 coverts. 



FIELD-CHARACTERS. Frequently uttered, loud, and very melodious 

 whistle (" wiel-a-wo ") of male generally first indication of presence ; 

 curious harsh growling noises to be heard at close quarters. Makes 

 short flight, when disturbed, to nearest tree, in which it disappears. 

 Male very skulking, and practically invisible in tree just coming 

 into leaf, but during flight bold black and golden-yellow plumage 

 very conspicuous. Females and young males look greenish, and 

 are hard to see (F.C.R. J.) 



BREEDING-HABITS. Breeds by preference in parks, old wooded 

 gardens and small plantations, building its remarkable nest in 

 angle of two horizontal boughs at various heights from ground. 

 Nest. Slung like a hammock, but attached firmly to boughs on 

 both sides, built of grass stalks, sedges, strips of bark, wool, etc., 

 lined flowery grass-heads and frequently containing bits of paper 



