0RI0LUS GALBULA. 
FAMILY —DENTIROSTRES. GENUS . ORIOLUS. 
By William Mac Gillivray, A.M., F.R.S.E., M.W.S., &c. 
The Golden Oriole, which by Temrninck is classed among the omnivorous 
birds, and by Cuvier is referred to the Dentirostral Family of the Order Passeres 
or Insessores, belongs to a genus formerly of great extent, but by modern ornitho¬ 
logists reduced to a small group, of which the species present the following cha¬ 
racters :— 
Bill rather long, stout, nearly straight, rather broad at the base, compressed. 
Upper mandible having the dorsal outline slightly arched, the ridge narrow, the 
sides flat and sloping at the base, slightly convex and more inclined towards the 
end, the edges sharp, with a slight notch close to the small, slightly deflected tip. 
Lower mandible with the angle moderately long and narrow, the sides nearly 
erect, the edges sharp, the dorsal outline nearly straight. Mouth of moderate 
width. Tongue slender, emarginate and papillate at the base, thin and horny 
toward the tip, which is bifid. Nostrils oblong, bare in the anterior part of the 
large nasal membrane, which is feathered. Eyes of moderate size; eyelids 
feathered. 
Head oblong, moderately large, the forehead slightly rounded. Neck rather 
short. Body ovate, compact. Legs rather strong, short: tarsus short, com¬ 
pressed, covered anteriorly with seven large scutella, posteriorly with two plates 
united at a very acute angle, and several transverse rugae below. Toes of mo¬ 
derate size, covered above with a few large scutella, papillate beneath; the first 
stout, of about the same length as the second; the fourth a little longer, and 
united at the base to the third, which is considerably longer. Claws of moderate 
length, arched, compressed, laterally grooved, acute; that of the hind toe much 
stronger. 
Plumage generally blended, the feathers oblong and rounded. Short bristles 
at the base of the bill. Wings rather long, of seventeen quills ; first primary 
very short, being scarcely more than a third of the length of the third, which is 
longest; second shorter than fourth ; secondaries of moderate length, broad, and 
rounded. Tail rather long, straight, slightly rounded, of twelve rather broad, 
rounded feathers. 
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