THE ORIOLE. 
67 
soft insects, caterpillars, and fruits. Bechstein expresses the loud flute-like whistle 
of the bird by the word “ puhlo.” 
The flat and saucer-shaped nest of this species is very different in the style of 
its construction from that of nearly all other British birds, being placed in, and sus¬ 
pended under, the horizontal fork of the bough of a tree, and firmly attached to both 
branches. The nest is composed of sheep’s wool, fibres of roots, and long slender 
stems of grass, which are curiously interwoven, so that the nest is pendulous, and yet 
is well supported. Its lining consists of the flowering heads of grasses. The eggs 
are usually four or five in number, purplish-white, with a few reddish-purple or ash- 
grey spots, and the female watches over them with such solicitude that it is said 
she will suffer herself to be taken off the nest rather than abandon them. A few 
visit England almost every year between spring and autumn, as the bird makes 
its annual visit to the European continent from its home south of the Medi¬ 
terranean in the month of April, and returns in September. The end of April 
and beginning of May are therefore the most usual times for its being observed in 
our southern counties, and some of the birds which were on their way to north¬ 
west France are sometimes seen in the eastern maritime counties. Thus Cornwall, 
and especially Norfolk, Kent, and Suffolk are most frequently visited by the Oriole. 
In the west of England it has been seen by forty at a time. A nest was taken 
at Ord, in Kent, in June, 1836, which contained young birds, but they unfortunately 
died; and in 1849, at the end of May, the old birds were procured, as well as 
their nest, which held three eggs, near Elmstone. It was suspended from the top 
branch of an oak, and was made of wool, bound together with dry grass. It has 
been seen in Northamptonshire, too, and so far north as Yorkshire, near Scar¬ 
borough. Thus the Oriole may be said to appear somewhere in England most 
seasons. It is a capricious bird about building, however, the migratory instinct 
seeming to keep it restless, so that often when it appears in suitable localities for 
breeding, a nest may be looked for in vain. 
It has been seen in the south or east of Ireland several times. One was 
killed in the Isle of Man in June, 1868; while as regards Scotch localities, it has 
occurred in the Isle of Arran, in Berwickshire, Fife, and Ross. 
Johns quotes an account of the Oriole’s song, which may be added to complete 
our account:—“ His note is a very loud whistle, which may be heard at a great 
distance, but in richness equalling the flute stop of a fine-toned organ. But variety 
there is none in his song, as he never utters more than three notes consecutively, 
and those at intervals of half a minute or a minute. Were it not for its fine 
