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edge greenish-yellow ; the tips of the quills, excepting the outer, and the primary 
coverts, pale-yellow. The tail is dark brown, the terminal yellow spot on the 
feathers of much less extent than in the male. 
Length to end of tail 9 and 2-12ths ; wing from flexure 6 ; tail 3 and 3-12ths; 
bill 1 and l-12th. 
The young, in its first plumage, is of a dusky yellowish-grey tint above, each 
feather having the central part greyish-brown ; the lower parts yellowish-white, 
each feather with a central brown line ; the sides and lower tail-coverts bright 
yellow ; the wings and tail brown, marked with yellow as in the adult. The male 
is easily distinguished from the female by its lighter colour. 
The species most nearly allied to the Golden Oriole ( Oriolus galhula) are 
the Yellow Oriole (O. aureus), the Chinese Oriole ( O. Chinensis), and the 
Blackheaded Oriole ( O. melanocephalus). Whether the first of these be really 
distinct I can scarcely venture to affirm. It is somewhat smaller, its wings are 
proportionally shorter, its bill larger, but the colouring is precisely similar, only there 
is a small black spot behind the eye, in addition to the black local space of the 
Common or Golden Oriole. 
This latter—the only species of the genus that is ever seen in Europe—arrives 
in France and Italy toward the end of April. It is not uncommon in many parts 
of Germany, but is rare in the northern countries, and in England is not a regular 
visitant, a few individuals only having been seen there at long intervals ; so that 
with us it ranks merely as an accidental straggler. It is said to prefer low, 
wooded districts, and to resort chiefly to the margins of forests, residing among 
the lower branches of the large trees, or in the thickets. Its food consists chiefly 
of insects and larvae, but as the season advances it feeds also on berries, and occa¬ 
sionally visits the gardens and orchards, where it manifests a partiality to cherries. 
Its nest is described by authors as of an oblong form, shaped like a purse, hav¬ 
ing its aperture above, and suspended from a forked branch, some say at the top, 
others at the lower part of a tree. It is composed externally of long straws neatly 
interwoven, internally of mosses and lichens, with a lining of grass, and sometimes 
wool. The eggs are four or five, of a regular oval form, smooth, white, with a 
few brownish-black spots, sometimes intermixed with paler markings. The young 
continue with their parents after they come abroad, and the families do not unite 
at the period of their departure, which takes place about the end of August. 
The young are said to be difficult to rear, and not to thrive in captivity, other¬ 
wise, creatures so beautiful would, no doubt, be great favourites as cage birds, 
although their natural notes are loud and shrill, and their song deficient in melody. 
I have not met with any account of the digestive organs of this species, nor, 
indeed, with any tolerable description of its manners. Judging from its external 
appearance, its organization is probably similar to that of the Thrushes, which 
have a narrow oesophagus, a rather powerful gizzard, lined with a horny rugous 
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