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THE ORIOLE. 

 (Oriolus galbula.) 



THIS bird is noisy in the spring and the early summer,, 

 its voice, which is full and deep like the note of the reed- 

 pipe, fills the edge of the woods and the great gardens. 

 " Next to the call of the Cuckoo, the flute-like note of 

 the Oriole most enlivens the early summer woods and 

 so contributes to the perfect harmony of a sunny spring- 

 tide-day; 'deelee-adid-leen,' or 'ditleo, deega, ditleeo' it- 

 sounds, always clear and joyonus out of the bushy tree- 

 tops." In Hungary, it endeavours to lure away boys 

 from too close proximity to the nest, by the cry, "kell-cy 

 did, fiu?" which means " Boys do you want some 

 nuts?" 



Except at the fruit season, the Oriole is a very useful 

 bird, and there is no kind of caterpillar that it will not 

 pick up. In seasons when there are a great many cock- 

 chafers, it carries on a perfect war of extermination on 

 these unhappy creatures. It is unfortunately true, how- 

 ever, that when the summer fruit is ripe it departs for 

 warmer regions before autumn it troubles itself little 

 about chafers, but turns its attention to cherries, apricots, 

 morellas, and early pears. Still the good it does in 

 destroying insects, is much greater than the harm it 

 does otherwise, and therefore we will be indulgent to it.. 

 Besides, its lovely colour is a delight to the eye. 



This Oriole comes annually to Cornwall and the Scilly 

 Isles, but can only be called a visitor to our country, 

 although nests have been found occasionally in some 

 counties, especially in Kent. It is not unfrequently 



