RAVENS. 243 



fortnight ; they grow with great rapidity, and moult their feathers before leaving the nest. Should a 

 pair of Pirols be driven from their home whilst brooding, they will at once set about their preparation 

 for another family, but will never recommence if disturbed a second time. Various kinds of insects, 

 caterpillars, butterflies, or worms are consumed by these birds in great numbers, and they also eat 

 cherries and other descriptions of fruit in abundance. Notwithstanding its usual timidity, the Pirol 

 has been known to become so tame when caged as to feed from its keeper's hand or mouth ; and in 

 one instance that came under our notice, would pull its master by the hair if he omitted to pay it the 

 attention desired. 



Africa and Southern Asia possess many species of Orioles ; these it is needless to enumerate, as 

 they closely resemble those that inhabit Europe. We find, however, in Australia another group of 

 these birds, which we must mention, inasmuch as they form a connecting link between the Pirols and 

 the Birds of Paradise. 



THE GOLDEN-CRESTED ORIOLE. 



The Royal or Golden-crested Oriole (Sericulus chrysocephalus), one of the most beautiful 

 creatures inhabiting that fertile and highly-favoured continent, is distinguished by its short and feeble 

 bill, the upper mandible of which is very distinctly notched, its straightly cut, or very slightly rounded 

 tail, and the peculiar nature of its feathers. The head, back of the neck, and an arched line which 

 passes from the nape over the breast, are bright yellow, while the rest of the plumage is velvety 

 black. The first quill is black, the rest of the primaries yellow in the middle and black at the root 

 and tip ; the secondaries are yellow, if we except a narrow border to the outer web. The eye is pale 

 yellow, the beak of a deeper shade, and the feet black. In the female the head and throat are 

 brownish white, the top of the head being marked with a large black spot ; the upper portions of the 

 wings and tail are olive brown, the feathers of the back tipped with triangular brownish-white spots ; 

 the belly is olive brown, and marked with similar but still more distinct spots. The eyes are brown, 

 and the feet black. The young resemble their mother. The full-sized birds are about eight inches 

 and three-quarters in length. 



We learn from Gould that this splendid species is confined to Eastern Australia, and is very 

 numerous in the bush about Moreton Bay, as also upon the neighbouring islands. In its habits it 

 resembles the Pirol, but is much quieter. It has no fear of man, and delights to perch in full view 

 upon the highest and most conspicuous branches of the trees ; it would, however, seem as if the old 

 males learnt by experience the danger to which they expose themselves by this lavish display of their 

 gorgeous plumage, for they are much more prudent in this respect than the females and young males. 

 As regards their mode of incubation Gould was unable to obtain any trustworthy intelligence. 



But few years have passed away since Europeans first became acquainted with the living forms of 

 the magnificent creatures we are now about to describe. Their glowing feathers, it is true, had long 

 been familiar to every eye, but the natives of New Guinea, in preparing their skins for exportation, 

 had removed all trace of legs, thus giving rise to most extravagant tales about the life they led in their 

 native lands. The Birds of Paradise, as they were called on account of their apparent want ot feet 

 and great beauty, retained, it was popularly supposed, the forms they had borne in the Garden of 

 Eden, and lived upon no more substantial nourishment than dew, or the ether through which it was 

 imagined that they perpetually floated by the aid of their long, cloud-like plumage, only seeking an 



