BALTIMORE ORIOLE, OR GOLDEN ROBIN. 153 



These gay, lively, and brilliant strangers, leaving their 

 hibernal retreat in South America, appear among us 

 about the 1st week in May, and more than a month 

 earlier in Louisiana, according to the observations of Au- 

 dubon. They were not seen, however, in West Florida 

 by the middle of March, although vegetation had then so 

 far advanced, that the oaks were in leaf, and the white 

 flowering Cornel* in full blossom. 



It is here that they pass the most interesting period of 

 their lives ; and their arrival is hailed as the sure harbin- 

 ger of the approaching warm and mild season. Full of life 

 and activity, these fiery sylphs are now seen vaulting and 

 darting incessantly through the lofty boughs of our tallest 

 trees ; appearing and vanishing with restless inquietude, 

 and flashing at quick intervals into sight, from amidst the 

 tender waving foliage, they seem like living gems in- 

 tended to decorate the verdant garment of the new clad 

 forest. But the gay Baltimore is neither idle nor capri- 

 cious ; the beautiful small beetles and other active winged 

 insects on which he now principally feeds, are in con* 

 stant motion, and require perpetual address in their cap- 

 ture. At first the males only arrive, but without appear- 

 ing in flocks; their mates are yet behind, and their social 

 delight is incomplete. They appear to feel this tempora- 

 ry bereavement, and in shrill and loud notes, they fife out 

 their tender plaints, in quick succession, as they pry and 

 spring through the shady boughs for their tiny and elu- 

 ding prey. They also now spend much time in the apple 

 trees, often sipping honey from the white blossoms over 

 which they wander with peculiar delight, continually 

 roving amidst the sweet and flowery profusion. The mel- 

 low whistled notes which they are heard to trumpet from 

 - the high branches of our tallest trees and gigantic elms, 



*Comv^ florida. 



