SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 



127 



507. Icterus glabula {Linn.). — Baltimore Oijiole. 



West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, South Bend, etc.— breeds (L Bruner); "Com- 

 mon all over eastern Nebraska where there is woodland or orchard " (Aughey) ; 

 "Summer resident, abundant, arrive in April and May" (Taylor); " West to 

 the base of the Kocky mountains "(Goss); Beatrice, De Witt — breeds (A. 

 S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common— breeds (G. A. Cole- 

 man); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Ponca, Hartingtou (D. H. Tal- 

 bot); Gage county — breeds (F. A.Colby); "a common summer resident, arrives 

 May 6 to 20, breeds June 1 to 20, depart middle of September " (I. S. Trostler). 



Fig. 41.— Orchard Oriole. 



The Baltimore Oriole has received such a bad reputation here in Ne- 

 braska as a grape thief during the past two or three years that I feel 

 inclined to give extra time and space in endeavoring to "clear him" 

 of such an unenviable a charge. This, however, I hardly think nec- 

 essary when the facts in the case are known. As insect destroyers 

 both this bird and the Orchard Oriole have had an undisputed reputa- 

 tion for many years; and the kinds of insects destroyed by both are 

 of such a class as to count in their favor. Caterpillars, and beetles 

 belonging to injurious species comprising 96 per cent of the food of 

 three specimens killed, is the record we have in their favor. On the 

 other hand grapes have been punctured only "presumably by this bird, 

 since he has so frequently been found in the vineyard and must be the 

 culprit." Now, I myself have seen the oriole in apple orchards un- 



