46 THE GOLDEN ORIOLE. 



It knows the persou who takes care of it, comes at his call to eat from 

 his hands, without however letting itself be caught : but it never becomes 

 quite tame, and often defends itself with Its beak. It makes very few 

 movements unless to seek its food, and generally remains quite still in the 

 same place. If it ever hops about the room it is in an awkward and 

 cramped manner, on account of its short feet ; on the other hand, it flies 

 very well ; but it must not be left completely at liberty in the room, or 

 quite shut up in the cage, because it is so easily startled, and in its fright 

 gives itself such violent blows on the head as would soon kill it. The 

 best way is to clip one wing, and then let it range the room. These birds 

 quarrel with one another, particularly in the evening, for their places on 

 the perch. I have kept them for some time in a large aviary with small 

 and great birds, and once with my pigeons which I kept shut up ; generally 

 I have them in my room, where they mix with several other birds : but 

 whether alone or with companions they appeared equally healthy and 

 active. 



ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES. They have few other attractions besides 

 their beautiful plumage, for their voice is only a harsh croaking " crag, 

 crag, craag*." 



THE GOLDEN ORIOLE. 



Oriolus Galbula, LINNAEUS ; Le Loriot, BUFFON ; Der Pirol, BECHSTEIN. 



THIS species, the male of which is very beautiful, is about 

 the size of a blackbird. Its length is nine inches, of which 

 the tail measures three and a half, and the beak one. The 

 head, neck, back, breast, sides, and lesser wing-coverts, are of 

 a brilliant golden yellow ; the wings and the tail are black, 

 with yellow gradually increasing to the outer feathers. 



The female is not so brilliant, the golden yellow is only 

 visible at the tip of the olive feathers in the tail, and in the 



* I once saw one of these birds drink, after swallowing dry ants' eggs ; it 

 then eat greedily of lettuce and endive. Another, which I kept, liked the 

 outside of lettuces and spinach after having eaten insects, especially beetles, 

 which are very heating. To judge from what I have observed, the roller is 

 by nature wild and solitary ; it seldom changes its situation, except to seek its 

 food or to hide itself from strangers. It is a good thing, whether kept in a cage 

 or let range, always to have a box in its way, in which it may take refuge when 

 frightened ; it will not fail to hide itself there, and by this means will not be 

 tempted to beat itself violently, which it does when it cannot fly from the object 

 of its fright. It knows its mistress very well, lets her take it up, comes near her, 

 and sits without any fear on her knees for whole hours without stirring. This 

 is as far as it goes even when tamed. It is neither caressing nor familiar; when 

 frightened it utters harsh cries, softer ones when its food is brought, but " crag, 

 crag, craag," at the same time raising its head, is the expression of its joy or 

 triumph. TRANSLATOR. 



