A MIDSUMMER EXCURSION 259 



" Mrs. O. Oriole is a famous weaver ; her grass nest, 

 hung from a crotch, is one of the tidiest bits of basket- 

 making in Birdlancl, and woukl do credit to human 

 hands. Yet she has only a beak for a shuttle or darn- 

 ing-needle — whichever you please to call it. I think 

 it is most like the needle of a sewing-machine, with 

 the eye at the point, so that it pokes the thread through 

 as it goes into the cloth, instead of pulling it through 

 with the other end." 



The Orchard Oriole 



Length seven inches. 



Male : black ; the rump, breast, belly, and lesser wing-coverts 

 chestnut. Round black tail with whitish tips, and some whitish 

 on the wings. 



Female : grayish-green on the upper parts, greener on the 

 tail, with paler bars on the wings ; dull yellow on all the under 

 parts. 



The young male is like the female the first year, but a little 

 browner on the back ; next year he has a black throat ; then he 

 patches up liis clothes till he looks like his father, all black and 

 chestnut. 



A Summer Citizen of the United States, west to the plains, north 

 to some parts of the Northern States and Canada, travelling entirely 

 south of the United States to spend the Vv^inter. 



A pleasant though shy neighbor, and very good Citizen, belong- 

 ing to the Ground Gleaners, Tree Trappers, and Seed Sowers. Eats 

 a little cultivated fruit for dessert, and should be welcome to it. 



THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE 



(The Hammock-maker) 



" The Baltimore Oriole is not so shy as his brother, 

 and rather relies on keeping his nest out of sight than 

 himself out of mind. His home is a sort of hempen 



