242 
In the systems of Linneus and Latham the genus Oriolus was composed of a 
number of species having very little affinity to each other, having been placed toge¬ 
ther, as it would seem, more on account of a kind of agreement in the colours of 
their plumage than from a similarity in the form of the bill, or in their habits. 
The genus thus constituted has, however, been broken up by Daudin, Vieillot, and 
others, into several genera, so that at present it contains only those species, all 
belonging to the old continent, which bear a strong resemblance in form to the 
Golden Oriole. 
This beautiful bird is about the size of the Blackbird (Turdus merula ), 
which it also resembles in form, although its tail and feet are considerably shorter, 
and its wings proportionally longer. Indeed, its resemblance to many of the 
Thrushes is such that several authors have named it the Golden Thrush. It is 
very intimately allied to two or three Indian and Chinese species, which resemble 
it, not only in form, but also in colour, although characteristic differences are 
apparent. As it agrees in every particular with the generic character given above, 
it is unnecessary, in describing it, to repeat the details already presented. 
The male has the plumage blended, the feathers being oblong, with disunited 
barbs, those on the fore part of the head short. The wings, when closed, reach 
to within an inch of the end of the tail, which is nearly even at the end. The 
bill is of a light brownish-red colour; the iris, according to Temminck and Mon¬ 
tagu, red ; the feet blueish-grey ; the claws of the same colour as the bill. The 
plumage is generally of a rich and pure gold colour. Between the bill and the 
eye is an oblong black spot or band. The wings are black, but the smaller 
coverts are yellow, as are the margins of the wing, the tips of the primary coverts, 
and the tips of all the quills, except the two outer ; while the external margins of 
the quills are yellowish-white, those of the two outer excepted. The two middle 
tail-feathers are greenish-yellow at the base, brownish-black in the rest of their 
extent, except the extreme tips, which are yellow ; all the rest are black, with the 
extremities bright yellow, the space of that colour gradually enlarging on the 
outer feathers. 
Length to end of tail 91 inches ; wing from flexure 6 and 2-12ths ; tail 3 
and 3-12ths; bill along the ridge 1 and l-12th, along the edge of the lower man¬ 
dible 1 and 3-12ths ; tarsus 1 ; first toe 1, its claw 5-12tlis ; second toe 1, its 
claw 3l-12ths; third toe 9-12ths, its claw 5-12ths ; fourth toe 8-12ths, its claw 
4-12ths. 
The female is somewhat less than the male. The bill and feet are similarly 
coloured. The plumage of the upper parts is yellowish-green, the forehead 
lighter, and the upper tail-coverts greenish-yellow. The fore part of the neck is 
pale greenish-grey, its sides greenish-yellow ; the breast white, the sides and lower 
tail-coverts yellow ; the throat marked with longitudinal pale-brown lines, the 
breast with larger lines of a brownish-black tint. The wings are brown, their 
