450 ORIOLE. 



Europe; but I believe moft fo in France, where it fpends the 

 fummers, and propagates its fpecies. It is fcarcely ever feen 

 fo far north as England or Sweden ; yet mentioned as a bird of 

 Ruffia, but fuppofe only the warmer parts of it ; comes twice in 

 a year into Switzerland, and found alfo in Carniola ; obferved in 

 Malta in September, on its pafiage fouthward, and returns in fpring 

 to the north through the fame track ; comes into Conftantinople in 

 fpring, and leaves it in September, but ftays in Alexandria till the 

 beginning of November, when it takes its leave. From this, mull 

 fuppofe that it winters in Africa and Afia, efpecially as this very 

 bird has been brought from China and Bengal, as well as the Cape 

 of Good Hope. 



The neft is of a curious conftruction, but perhaps not quite fo.as 

 in fome of the Orioles above-mentioned, though built after the fame 

 faihion. It is of the ftiape of a purfe, fattened to the extreme di- 

 varications of the outmoft twigs of tall trees, and compofed of 

 fibres of hemp or ftraw, mixed with fine dry ftalks of grafs, and 

 lined within with mofs and liverwort. The female lays four 

 or five eggs,, of a dirty white, marked with 1 fmall dark-brown 

 fpots, which are thickeft about the largefl end : fhe fits three 

 weeks, and is obferved to be very tender of her young, fearing no- 

 thing for their defence ; not unfrequently will fufter herfelf to be 

 taken with the eggs and neft, and continue to fit upon them in a 

 cage till fhe dies. 



The food which this bird is moft fond of \s grapes and jigs, in 

 the feafon, alfo cherries, &c. ; but at other times is contented with 

 infects, and what elfe it can get. 



It has a loud cry, which may be heard far off; but I do not 

 hear it remarked by any one for the leaft fong, though Gefner 

 fays it whittles before rain. The iielh is accounted good eating. 



Willughby 



