ORIOLUS, the oriole, in natural his tory, a genus of birds of the order Pica:. Generic character : bill conic, convex, very sharp and strait ; mandibles equal ly long ; nostrils small, and lodged in the base of the bill, and partly cover ed ; tongue divided and sharp-point ed. These birds are natives of Ame rica, are clamorous and voracious, ap pear in flocks, feed on fruits and grain, and frequently have pensile nests. La tham enumerates forty-five species; Gme lin fifty. We shall notice only those which 0. persicus, or the black and yellow oriole. A variety of this species, some what larger than a blackbird, and an in habitant of South America, is the bird rendered, remarkable for building nests in the form of an alembic, and nearly eighteen inches long, of dry grass, hog's bristles, and horse-hair, or, what is called in that country, old man's heard, a sub stance very like the hair of horses.
The bottom of this nest is hollow for the length of a foot, the remainder or upper part, for the space of six in ches, is solid, and it is suspended at the extremity of a branch. It is particu larly fond of building on trees, near houses, and several hundreds of these nests have occasionally been seen on a single tree.
0, icterus, or the Banana bird, is found it) all the Caribbee islands, feeding on in sects, and hopping like a magpie. These birds are domesticated in America, for the destruction of insects. In a state of
nature, four or five will attack a large bird, and appear, after tearing it in pieces, to divide the spoil with great discri mination. They will occasionally attack men. Their nests are formed and sus. pended like those of the former spe cies, to guard against snakes and other animals.
0. Baltimoreus, or the Baltimore bird, is called by the natives, the fire-bird, and, when its feathers are most bril. liant, naturally excites the idea or sensa tion of fire. These birds fbrm pensile nests, secure from all depredation. They are about seven inches long, and inhabit North America.
0. galbula, or the golden oriole, is as large as a blackbird, and of a fine golden yellow, with wings almost entirely black. It is common in several parts of Europe, particularly in France ; but not seen so far north even as England. It is suppos ed to winter in Africa. Its nest is pensile, and the female is extremely attentive to her young, fearing no enemy in their de fence, suffering herself to be taken in the nest with them, and continuing to sit over them in the cage till she dies. It feeds on insects and fruits, and is considered as a delicacy for the table.
For the red•runiped oriole, see Ayes, Plate X. fig. 6.