ORIOLE. 
Capt. S. A. White says: “ This bird \vith its subspecies has a 
very wide range; it comes down to South Australia occasionally in 
the autumn and soon makes its presence loiown by its wonderful gm’gling 
note, so unhke any other South Austrahan bird ; they do not 
remain long Avith us. While here they feed upon olives, white cedar 
(Melia) berries, both Australian and American varieties, ivy berries and 
insect life. 
“They were very numerous in the flowering eucalypts near Darwin 
in Jime, 1922. Many birds, including the Oriole and the yellow variety, 
woixld be seen squabbling over the huge heads of blossom any morning in 
the week, calling very loudly and often making a scolding note.” 
Mr. Tom TregeUas has also written: “ My flrst note on the arrival of the 
Orioles this season is on Oct. 17th, and from that date to the present (Dec. 25th) 
they have been very much in evidence. When first heard, the call of the Oriole 
seems pleasant and a remembrance of last year’s visit, but when this call is 
repeated the whole day long, and with but little variation, it becomes monotonous 
in the extreme. The favourite locality in which to look for these birds is on 
a hillside overlooking a gully, and in such a place they build their beautiful 
nests. They may be heard long before they are seen as they have a powerful 
voice; their call-note resembles m part that of the Harmonious Thrush, but 
they vary it greatly as the season advances. When first heard, they sit straight 
up hke a Red Wattle-Bird and give vent to the caU ‘ lock-a-lock-a-law.’ This 
is the call one gets tired of. As the nesting advances it is occasionally changed 
for ‘ ee-aw-ee,’ and, when the nest is built and intruders are about, for a scream 
somewhat recalling that of the Spur-winged Plover. They are very fearless 
when defending their nests, and will fly with opened beak against the chmber, 
uttering meanwhile these piercing screams. The nest is foimd at aU heights 
from 7 to 40 feet from the groimd; on November 2nd I found a nest with three 
young about seven days old. Their markings -were : Bill and feet flesh-coloured, 
eyes just opened and irides a pale blue ; gape fleshy-cream, roof of mouth 
hght pink, throat a beautiful cerise, all the skin of body yellow and orange 
and fatty; fine buff-coloured down all over head, wings and spine, quills just 
appearing on centre of back, mantle and -wings ; tail-feathers just budding. 
On Nov. 13th found nest with two young just hatched. On 27th I examined 
same nest and the birds had ‘ gape and bill flesh-coloured, inside of mouth 
a beautiful pink, roof of mouth purple, legs and feet stony grey; feathers on 
head bro-wn with down of the same hue above them, feathers on back mottled 
grey, wings dark grey mth buff outer edges, breast and abdomen pure white 
with black blotch in centre, tail grey -with white tips, xmder tail-coverts white. 
This bird is fifteen days old.’ ” 
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