The Birds of the Garden. 203 



weeks in the early spring, and again in the autumn, as it passes 

 north and south. They are said to nest in the far north. They 

 resemble in appearance the Song Sparrow. The song is also 

 similar and quite as musical. They appear in small flocks. 

 Other varieties of sparrows I cannot mention in one short paper. 

 The discussion ol the merits and demerits of the English Sparrow 

 I will leave to others. My private judgment is that it is doing 

 us more good than harm. 



The Golden Robin, commonly called Baltimore Oriole, comes 

 to us about the 15th of May. The name Baltimore was given it 

 because of the resemblance of its coat to that of Lord Baltimore 

 of Maryland* It is a well-known summer visitor, both for the 

 brilliant orange color of its livery, and for its strange, sweet and 

 powerful song that it continues to sing more or less during the 

 summer. It inhabits North America, from Canada to Mexico. 

 The Oriole is capable of singing an exhaustive melody of great 

 variety and beauty, but it is apt to confine itself to but few notes. 

 It usually suspends its long, hanging nest from the top of a high 

 tree or limb. In the town it selects any material most handy, 

 like cord, bits of cloth, yarn, cotton and wool for the outer cover- 

 ing ; the lining is made soft with hair. The city nests are not as 

 beautiful and symmetrical as the country ones, as the nests of the 

 latter are made of a strong fibre, net unlike hemp, lined with hair. 

 It exhibits in this nest workmanship most rare and wonderful. 

 In the south the nests differ from the northern ones. They are 

 made of Spanish moss, which is attache 1 at both ends to the 

 forks in a branch, then weaving the moss in opposite directions 

 until a hammock like nest is produced. 



The Orchard Oriole is not as large as the Baltimore. Its color 

 is a dingy yellow and olive. It seems to prefer a home near the 

 water's edge. The song is various and most musical. Its nest is 

 not a true hanging nest. It is deep, cup-shaped, too shallow to 

 conceal its occupant. 



The Rose-breasted Grosbeak comes with the Cat-bird and Oriole. 

 The head is black, tail dark, breast rose colored. In some parts 

 of Minnesota this is the bird most commonly seen ; but with us it 

 is comparatively rare. Perhaps in the future we shall ses more of 



