VII.— THE ORIOLE. 



" There's a golden bird." — Hood. 



Golden indeed is the rich plumage of our Black- 

 Jtieaded Oriole {Oriolus melanocefJialus), aud the 

 prevailing hue is admirably set ofi by the black hood, 

 wings and tail ; while the pink bill and grey feet add 

 prettily contrasting details to the whole. This 

 fulness of beauty is most characteristic of the old 

 cock ; for young birds at first have the yellow body 

 much paler and streaked with black, and the black- 

 head, to equalize matters, duller and streaked with 

 yellow. The bill is also black, and altogether, 

 although as birds go rather showy, they are not to be 



