108 THE GOLDEN ORIOLE. 



ncr that the outermost have most yellow, and the bUck gradu- 

 ally increases as the feathers are nearest the centre. 



The female is not so handsome ; the golden yellow appears 

 only at the end of the olive green feathers of the tail, and on the 

 under tail and wing coverts. The rest of the upper part of the 

 body is siskin green ; the belly is dirty greenish white, mixed 

 with dark stripes ; the wings blackish grey. 



Habitat. When wild, it frequents isolated groves and 

 thickets, near larger woods, where there are high and leafy 

 trees. It prefers the bushy trees so much, that it is rarely 

 seen distinctly. When the cherries are ripe, it also betakes 

 itself to the orchards. It appears in Germany in May, when 

 the trees are in leaf, and departs in flocks as early as August. 



In the house, when it cannot be allowed to run or fly about, 

 it may be confined in a large wire cage, which may be made 

 like an ordinary Nightingale aviary. At night it is always 

 very restless, if the cage have not a thick covering, and thus 

 often rubs off its quill and tail feathers. Even when running 

 about the room it is a clumsy bird, jumps awry, like its rela- 

 tive the Roller, on account of its short feet ; never sits still, 

 and quarrels with and bites all other birds. 



Food. When wild, it feeds on berries and insects. If an 

 old male be caught, like the Jays, by means of an Owl, put 

 in a large cage in a quiet room, be fed at first with cherries 

 alone, and afterwards mixed with bread soaked in milk, and 

 dry ants' eggs, it may occasionally be kept alive for some time. 

 Dr. MEYER kept an old male, which he caught in a Titmouse 

 trap, a year and a half. At first it took the usual Nightingale's 

 food, afterwards bread and milk, and at last anything that came 

 to table. 



Breeding. The Golden Oriole breeds but once a year ; their 

 purse-shaped nest is hung, with great art, on the fork oi' a 

 branch in some thick tree, or bush : it is not unlike a basket 

 with two handles. The female lays four or five eggs, which 

 are white, with a few black points of various sizes ; and before 

 the first moulting the young ones resemble the mother in ap- 

 pearance, and mew like cats. If it is desired to rear them, 

 which requires very peculiar care and attention, they should 

 be taken out of the nest when half fledged, fed at first with 

 fresh ants' eggs and chopped bullock's heart, and gradu- 

 ally inured either to the usual Nightingale's food, or to bread 



