140 NEW-YORK FAUNA EIRDS. 



are bluish white, with pale brown spots and lines. Its food consists chiefly of flies, beetles 

 and caterpillars, and its services in destroying these insects are invaluable. It ranges over 

 the whole Union, from Mexico to 55° north latitude. Is easily domesticated, and imitates 

 the notes of other birds. 



THE ORCHARD ORIOLE. 



Icterus spurius. 



PLATE XXI. FIG. 46 (Male). 

 (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Oriolus spurius. Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. lSed. p. 102. 



O. mutalus. Wilson, Am. Ornith. Vol. 1, p. CI, pi. 4, fig. 1 (female) ; fig. 2 (male of two years) ; fig. 3 (male 



of three years) ; fig. 4 (adult male). 

 Yphantes solitaria. Vieillot, Gal des Ois. Pcudulinus nigricollis, Id. lb. 

 Icterus spurius. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 51. Audubon, fol. pi. 42. 

 Orchard Oriole. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 165. Kiktland, Zool. Ohio, p. 162. 

 Orchard Hangnest. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 144. 



Characteristics. Tail long and rounded. Bright chesnut : head, neck, back, wings and 

 tail black. Female and yearling, yellow olive, inclining to brown above. 

 Young male of more than a year, with the throat black. Length, six 

 inches. 



Description. Bill conical, acute, slightly curved. Inner and hind toe subequal ; claw of 

 the hind toe twice the size of the others. Second and third primaries longest. Tail of twelve 

 feathers, rounded, and an inch and a half longer than the tips of the closed wings. Nostrils 

 oval. 



Color. Deep bay on the breast, belly, vent, shoulders, under wing-coverts and tail-coverts. 

 Quills and larger coverts black, margined with pale rufous or yellowish. Tail black ; a few 

 of the tips of the feathers whitish. Female and young of the year : Head and rump bright 

 yellow-olive ; back and wings dusky brown ; coverts tipped with white : of the second year, 

 black on the chin and throat : third year, chin blacker ; back olive and black ; beneath olive 

 mixed with bay. 



Length, 6-5-.7-0. Alar spread, 9*0. 



The Orchard Oriole is more common than the preceding species in the southern district of 

 this State, where it is seen from May to September, when it migrates southwardly. Its 

 nest does not hang free and pendulous like that of the Golden Oriole, but is firmly attached 

 all around its margin ; in other respects, it is interwoven in the same manner : the eggs are 

 bluish white sprinkled with brown. It ranges from the equator to 49° north latitude. Mr. 

 Audubon states that he has seen them in the State of Maine, but they have not yet been 

 noticed in the adjoining State of Massachusetts. It feeds on crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, 

 larva? of insects, and occasionally on juicy fruits and berries. 



