MERULID^J. 73 



counties of England : several specimens have been 

 killed in Devonshire and Cornwall. It has also 

 been known to breed in England, though rarely : it 

 would probably do so more regularly if unmolested ; 

 but its beautifully bright plumage renders it very 

 conspicuous, and hence eagerly sought after by 

 collectors of birds ; its feathers are also much in 

 request by ladies for hats. 



The nest is said to be placed in the forked bough 

 of a tree : it is formed of sheep's wool and long 

 slender stems of grass. 



According to M. Prevost's list, this bird must be 

 very mischievous in the garden ; but, on account of 

 its extreme scarcity, it is not at all likely to disturb 

 the equanimity of our gardeners, so I shall not take 

 up space by quoting the somewhat long list of its 

 misdemeanours. At the same time I may observe 

 that, as in the case of many other birds, the list of 

 itsservices is very nearly as long. 



The male Golden Oriole is not likely to be passed 

 by without being immediately recognised by the most 

 unobservant : the female, however, not being quite 

 so brilliant, might possibly escape recognition. The 

 following description is taken from Meyer's ' British 

 Birds': "The entire body of the male is brilliant 

 yellow, including the head, neck and tippet, the breast 

 and all the under parts ; the wings and tail are black, 

 with the exception of the tips of the spurious wing- 

 feathers, which are yellow, and the terminal portion 



