242 North American Birds Eggs. 



505. Hooded Oriole. Icterus cucullatus srnnetti. 



Range. — Mexico, north in summer to the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. 

 This species is orange yellow except for the face, throat* 

 fore back, wings and tail, which are black; the wings are 

 crossed by two white bars. These handsome birds are the 

 most abundant of the Orioles on the Lower Rio Grande, 

 where their pure mellow whistle is heard at frequent inter- 

 vals throughout the day. They generally build their nests 

 in hanging moss from mesquite trees, turning up at the 

 [White] ends and lining the pocket with moss, or else make a 



shallow hanging nest of fibres and suspend it from yuccas. 

 During May or June they lay from three to five eggs of a white color, spotted 

 (rarely lined I with purplish brown and gray. Size .85 x .60. 

 505a. Arizona Hooded Oriole. Icterus cucullatus nelsoni. 



Range.— Western Mexico; in summer north to southern Arizona, New Mexico 

 and California. 



This variety is like the last but more yellowish. Their nests are made of a 

 wiry grass compactly woven together and partially suspended to mistletoe twigs 

 growing from Cottonwood trees; nests of this type are perfectly distinct from 

 those of the preceding, but when they are made of fibre and attached to yuccas, 

 they cannot be distinguished from nests of the former variety. Their eggs are 

 similar to those of the Hooded Oriole, but generally more strongly marked and 

 usually with some zigzag lines. Size .85 x .60. 



506. Orchard Oriole. Icterus spurius. 



Range.— United States, east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to southern 

 New England, and Canada in the interior. Winters beyond our^borders. 



The adult male of this species is a rich chocolate brown and 

 black, it requiring three years to attain this plumage. They 

 nest commonly about habitations in their range, usually pre- 

 ferring orchard trees for sites. Their nests are skillfully 

 woven baskets of fresh grasses, about as high as wide; they 

 are generally placed in upright forks and well concealed by 

 drooping leaves. They lay from four to six bluish white eggs, 

 spotted and blotched with brown and lavender. Size .80 x .55. fBiuish white 1 

 Data. — Avery's Island, La., May 10, 1896. Nest of grass, 

 lined with thistledown; semi-pensile in drooping twigs of a willow. Collector, 

 E. A. Mellhenny. 



507. Baltimore Oriole. Icterus galbula. 



Range.— North America, east of the Rockies, breeding from southern United 

 States north to New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. 



This beautiful and well known eastern Oriole can 

 readily be identified by its orange Hame color and entire- 

 \^^^/" h' black head. Even better known than the birds, are 



• '"^■^ ' the pensile nests which retain their positions on the 



swaying drooping branches all through the winter. 

 Although they build in many other trees, elms seem to 

 be their favorites. Their nests are made of plant fibres 

 and frequently string, and often reach a length of about 

 [White.] 10 inches and about half that in diameter; they are 



usually attached to drooping branches by the rim so 

 that they rock to and fro, but are sometimes held more firmly in position by 

 having their side bound to a branch. Their eggs, which are laid in May and 

 June, are white, streaked and lined with blackish Itrown and gravish. Size 

 .90 X .60. 



