488 AVES— CROW BLACKBIRD. 



ORCHARD ORIOLE. i 



This bird has been described under a variety of names ; as the spurious 

 oriole, bastard oriole. It is a distinct species from the preceding, and diners 

 from it in size, being less and more slender ; in its colors, which are differ- 

 ent ; in the form of its bill and tail ; in its notes, which are neither so full 

 nor so mellow, and uttered with much more rapidity ; in its mode of build- 

 ing, and the materials which it uses ; and, lastly, in the shape and color of 

 the eggs. Many mistakes have been occasioned by the change of color 

 which these birds undergo, as they do not receive their full and perfect 

 plumage till the fourth year. The young birds are easily raised from the 

 nest, and soon become agreeable domestics. One which I reared and kept 

 through the winter, whistled with great clearness and vivacity at two months 

 old. It had an odd manner of moving its head and neck slowly, regularly, 

 and in various directions, when intent on observing any thing, without stir- 

 ring its body. This motion was as slow as that of a snake. When, at 

 night, a candle was placed near its cage, it seemed extremely well pleased, 

 fed and drank, drest, shook and arranged its plumage, sat as close to the 

 light as possible, and sometimes chanted a few irregular notes, as I sat read- 

 ing or writing beside it. 



CROW BLACKBIRD. 2 



This no-ted depredator is well known to every farmer of the northern and 

 middle states. In March, these birds come from the south; fly in loose 

 flocks, frequent SAvamps and meadows, and follow in the furrows after the 

 plough ; their food at this season consists of worms, grubs, and caterpillars, 

 of which they destroy prodigious numbers as if to recompense the husband- 

 man beforehand for the havoc they intend to make in his crops of Indian 

 corn. They build on tall cedar and pine trees in company ; sometimes ten 

 or fifteen nests being on the same tree. These are five inches in diameter ; 

 composed outwardly of mud, with long stalks and roots of grass, and lined 

 with horse-hair. 



The trees in which they build are near the farmhouses and plantations. 

 From them they issue over the neighboring fields, and make their depreda- 



1 Oriolus mentatus, Wilson. 



2 Icterus versicolor, Audubon. The genus Icterus has the bill longer than the head, or 

 as long, straight, like an elongated cone, pointed, sharp, a little compressed, without 

 distinct ridge or notch, the base covered by feathers; margin of the mandibles more or 

 less bent inwards; nostrils basal, lateral, and covered by a hairy rudiment; tarsus as long 

 as, or longer than the middle toe ; wings long ; third and fourth feathers longest. 



