30 



of the water ousel was covered with a thick soft down, which 

 was, doubtless, intended to form the impervious covering 

 which enables it at all times to enter the water and search 

 for food beneath its surface. 

 Indigenous. 



FAMILY VI MERULESLE (THRUSHES). 



GENUS XVI. ORIOLUS (ORIOLE). 



SPECIES 28 THE GOLDEN ORIOLE. 



Oriolus galbula. Lin. 

 Loriot. Temm. 



THIS elegantly marked species, with its bright hues of gol- 

 den yellow and deep black, is, as we might suppose, too 

 beautiful to be a native of our ungenial clime. Of great 

 rarity, we can only give it a place in our Fauna from the oc- 

 currence of six or eight specimens, in various parts of Ire- 

 land. Closely resembling the thrushes, it has received the 

 appellation of golden thrush from several authors who have 

 described it, and who have also agreed in describing its habits 

 as similar to those of the true merulinge. 



In the summer of 1851 we had the pleasure of examining, 

 in a fresh state, a very beautiful male, in the establishment 

 of Mr. Lefevre,* who kindly informed us of its having been 

 trapped in the vicinity of St. Cloud, some few miles from 

 Paris. 



Habitat Southern Europe. 



GENUS XVIL TURDUS (THRUSH). 

 SPECIES 29 THE MISSEL THRUSH. 



Turdus viscworous. Linn. 

 Merle draine. Temm. 



Jay. Big Felt. Missel Bird. Storm Cock. 



THE largest of the thrushes. This species is a general resi- 

 dent with us ; but during spring and summer, from its habit 

 of breeding in the upper branches of lofty trees, it appears 

 of greater rarity than it really is. Found in pairs during 

 the breeding season, and on the approach of winter forming 



* Naturaliste, Quai Malaquais, Paris. 



