THE GOLDEN ORIOLE. 37 



and will shoot specimens for the collector of 

 " British " birds. Thus the Oriole, which might 

 be a regular summer resident, has to be classed 

 among our rare visitors. The birds, themselves, 

 appear to know that their golden plumage renders 

 them specially visible, and in India I noticed that 

 the Golden Oriole of the country {Oriolus kundoo) 

 was an uncommonly shy bird, and this seems to 

 be the manner of the European species. 



However much the Oriole may keep itself out 

 of sight, its note is at once attractive, being very 

 flute-like. Thus Mr. Seebohm says : — "The call- 

 note, during the pairing season, sounds like the 

 words, ' Who are you ? ' in a full rapid whistle ; 

 and its song is a ' Wheet-li-vee-o,' whence its 

 vernacular name in Holland of ' Kiel-i-vee-o.' 

 Somfe slight modifications in its song are ap- 

 parently produced by prefixing or interluding its 

 call-note. It is a pity that the song is so short ; 

 for in quality it is scarcely exceeded by any other 

 bird. Naumann describes its ordinary call-note 

 a clear gyako, yako, yako, and its alarm note as a 

 harsh Khrr." 



In its habits the Oriole is very like a Thrush, 

 and in its flight it also resembles that bird. Its 



