354 



PERCHING BIRDS. 



preference to smaller cover. They are divided only into two genera, of which 

 Oriolus has the lores feathered, while in Sphecotheres the}* are naked. Orioles 

 inhabit the temperate parts of Europe, the whole of Africa, India, China, the 

 Malayan Provinces, the Indian Islands, and Australia. 



Of the numerous birds visiting Northern Europe in the spring 

 no species is better known than the golden oriole (0. ijalbula), at 

 which time this bird may be observed migrating in small numbers; both sexes 

 journeying in company. At this season the birds are silent, and seem anxious to 



Golden Oriole. 





THE COLDEN ORIOLE (h nat. size). 



escape notice, although, as they arrive before the beech trees (which clothe the 

 mountain-sides in the north of Spaing have unfolded their leaves, they have some 

 difficulty in concealing their brilliant plumage among the bare twigs. The oriole 

 on the Continent reaches its nesting-haunts about the end of April, and at once 

 claims its own peculiar area of forest. Each pair confines itself to a certain 

 portion of a great wood, the intrusion of a strange male into the haunts of a 

 pair of breeding birds being certain to result in a fight. Although the golden 

 oriole is shy and retiring in Europe, its cousin is by no means so in India, 

 where it often perches on a tree immediately over the tent of the traveller, 

 and there pours out its flute-like notes. In addition to these flute-like tones, 

 both sexes have also a cat-like call. The nest is usually placed on a bough, 



