THE GOLDEN ORIOLE. 53 



to northern climates to rear its young, and to 

 sing there the "sweet wild song/' which it is 

 described as singing in Norway. 



The soft flute-like notes of the Golden Oriole* 

 (On'oJus (jalhula), are now and then heard in our 

 orchards, for this bird is an occasional visitor to 

 Britain. With the exception of the Bohemian 

 Wax-wing, it is the most beautiful of all the 

 birds which find their way into this country, and it 

 is so richly coloured, that one would believe it 

 to be a native of those tropical lands where 

 birds and insects and flowers are so much more 

 gorgeous than with us. It is not imcommon in 

 Germany, Holland, and France, and is very nu- 

 merous in Spain, Provence, and Italy, dwelling in 

 secluded groves, and in the borders of forests, 

 during the summer months, and departing in the 

 autumn into Africa and the warmer regions of 

 Asia. 



A very sweet song is that of the golden oriole ; 



* The Golden Oriole is nine inches and a half in length. The 

 general plumage brilliant yellow, with the wings and tail black, 

 and a black stripe on each side of the face ; beak orange-brown ; 

 feet lead colour. The female is greenish yellow, streaked with 

 ^k brown. 



