Oriolus Galbula, LINNÆUS; Le Loriot, BUFFON; Der Pirol,
BECHSTEIN.
This species, the male of which is very beautiful, is about the size of
a blackbird. Its length is nine inches, of which the tail measures three
and a half, and the beak one. The head, neck, back, breast, sides, and
lesser wing-coverts, are of a brilliant golden yellow; the wings and the
tail are black, with yellow gradually increasing to the outer feathers.
The female is not so brilliant, the golden yellow is only visible at the
tip of the olive feathers in the tail, and in the lesser and under
wing-coverts. All the upper part of the body is of the green colour of
the siskin, the lower part greenish white with brown streaks, and the
wings grey black.
HABITATION.--When wild, it generally frequents lonely groves, or the
skirts of forests, always keeping among the most bushy trees, so that
it is rarely seen on a naked branch; it always frequents orchards
during the time of cherries. It is a bird of passage, departing in
families in August, and not returning till the following May[21].
In the house, if it cannot be let range at pleasure, it must be
confined in a large wire cage.
FOOD.--When wild, its food is insects and berries. In confinement, and
if an old one be caught by means of the owl, like the jays, it must
be kept at first in a quiet and retired place, offering it fresh
cherries, then adding by degrees ants' eggs, and white bread soaked
in milk, or the nightingale's food. But I confess there is great
difficulty in keeping it alive, for with every attention and the
greatest care, I do not know a single instance of one of this species
having been preserved for more than three or four months.
[Illustration: NEST OF THE GOLDEN ORIOLE.]
BREEDING.--The scarcity of the golden oriole arises from its breeding
but once a year. Its nest, hung with great art in the fork of a small
bushy branch, is in shape like a purse, or a basket with two handles.
The female lays four or five white eggs, marked with a few black
streaks and spots. Before the first moulting, the young ones are like
their mother, and mew like cats. If any one wishes to rear them they
must be taken early from the nest; fed on ants' eggs, chopped meat
and white bread soaked in milk, varying these things as their health
requires, and as their excrements are too frequent or too soft. In
short, they may be accustomed to the nightingale's food. I must here
remark that a very attentive person alone can hope to succeed[22].
ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--I have seen two golden orioles that were reared
from the nest, one of which, independent of the natural song,
whistled a minuet, and the other imitated a flourish of trumpets. Its
full and flute-like tones appeared to me extremely pleasing.
Unfortunately the fine colours of its plumage were tarnished, which
almost always happens, above all if the bird be kept in a room filled
with smoke, either from the stove or from tobacco. One of my
neighbours saw two golden orioles at Berlin, both of which whistled
different airs.
Its note of call, which in the month of June so well distinguishes
the golden oriole from other birds, may be well expressed by "ye,
puhlo[23]."