60 Order I 



which may be purple, red, rich brown, or almost black, 

 while the pinkish or greenish ground-colour varies in 

 accordance. In Scotland the Tree-Pipit is often called 

 "Wood-Lark," a very natural mistake where that 

 species does not occur. 



The Rock-Pipit {A. petrosus) is larger than the 

 Meadow-Pipit, and rather more olive, while the outer 

 tail-feathers are marked with smoke-colour rather than 

 white. It is entirely confined to our rocky shores, but 

 ranges abroad from Norway to north and west France ; 

 elsewhere matters are complicated by the occurrence of 

 a form with a reddish breast. Since Meadow-Pipits also 

 breed on our cHffs, observers must be careful in their 

 identification, for the habits as well as the plumage 

 are similar, and both birds feed on the shore after the 

 breeding season. The Rock-Pipit's eggs are merely a 

 little larger. 



Family ORIOLID^, or Orioles 



The Golden Oriole {Oriolus oriolus) might be rele- 

 gated to our list of irregular migrants, were it not for 

 the fact that it now breeds in Kent and occasionally 

 in our eastern and southern counties. All should 

 therefore be on the look-out for a beautiful bird of the 

 size of a Thrush, golden in colour with black wings 

 and tail, and use every means to preserve it, if seen, 

 or permit it to breed in safety. The nest is a sort of 

 cradle of grass, wool and bast, slung in the fork of 

 a branch ; the large eggs are white with round purplish 

 black spots. The Golden Oriole has a swift but heavy 

 flight, a lovely flute-like song and a harsh caU, but it 

 eats too much ripe fruit to be popular abroad, though 

 insects form part of its diet; it often frequents town 



