354 
PERCHING BIRDS. 
preference to smaller cover. They are divided only into two genera, of which 
Oriolus has the lores feathered, while in Sphecotheres they are naked. Orioles 
inhabit the temperate parts of Europe, the whole of Africa, India, China, the 
Malayan Provinces, the Indian Islands, and Australia. 
Of the numerous birds visiting Northern Europe in the spring 
no species is better known than the golden oriole (0. galbula), at 
which time this bird may be observed migrating in small numbers; both sexes 
journeying in company. At this season the birds are silent, and seem anxious to 
Golden Oriole. 
THE GOLDEN ORIOLE (| Hat. size). 
escape notice, although, as they arrive before the beech trees (which clothe the 
mountain-sides in the north of Spain) have unfolded their leaves, they have some 
difficulty in concealing their brilliant plumage among the bare twigs. The oriole 
on the Continent reaches its nesting-haunts about the end of April, and at once 
claims its own peculiar area of forest. Each pair confines itself to a certain 
portion of a great wood, the intrusion of a strange male into the haunts of a 
pair of breeding birds being certain to result in a fight. Although the golden 
oriole is shy and retiring in Europe, its cousin is by no means so in India, 
where it often perches on a tree immediately over the tent of the traveller, 
and there pours out its flute-like notes. In addition to these flute-like tones, 
both sexes have also a cat-like call. The nest is usually placed on a bough, 
