72 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



under parts are rusty black, each feather having a 

 broader grey edging than in the male; wings and 

 tail same as in the male. 



This is the description of a pair in my collection, 

 which were shot at Pixton, near Dulverton, in this 

 county, in June, 1866. Another mature specimen 

 I have was probably killed in the autumn, soon after 

 the moult, as the black feathers on the upper parts 

 are slightly edged with grey. In the young bird the 

 crescent on the breast is scarcely to be seen ; its 

 position, however, is just to be discerned on a close 

 inspection. 



The eggs appear to be something like those of a 

 Blackbird, but not quite so thickly speckled. Yar- 

 rell says the eggs are of a light blue, speckled and 

 spotted with reddish brown. 



GOLDEN ORIOLE, Oriolus galbula. Having seen 

 one specimen, a female, of this rare and very beauti- 

 ful summer visitant, at Mrs. Turle's, the birdstuffer 

 at Taunton, which had been killed near Minehead, 

 I have to include it in the list of Somersetshire 

 birds.* 



The Golden Oriole is an occasional summer 

 visitant, and has been met with in most of the 



* Since writing the above I have seen another Somerset- 

 shire specimen, also a female, said to have been shot at 

 Bradford, near Taunton, and now in Mr. Sandford's collection 

 at Ninehead Court. 



