OECHABD ORIOLE 61 



the most exquisitely finished and tender of bird 

 songs. Indeed, the Oriole is a prince among 

 birds, with character as positive as his dress and 

 with such winning ways and so melodious a voice 

 that he is sure of the affection of all who study 

 him. 



Orchard Oriole : Icterus spurius. 



Adult male, entire head and neck black ; wings, tail, and back 

 mainly black ; rest of body chestnut. Adult female, upper 

 parts olive-green; under parts dull yellow. Young male in 

 second year, similar to the female, but with the throat black, 

 and patches of chestnut on the under parts. Length, about Tj 

 inches. 



Geographic Distributiok. — Eastern North America ; breeds 

 from the Gulf states to Massachusetts, Ontario, and North 

 Dakota, and winters in Central and northern South America. 



'' The Orchard Oriole, though far less bril- 

 liantly colored than its eastern congener the Bal- 

 timore Oriole, is equally well known though not 

 quite as conspicuous. It is a restless, impulsive, 

 but well-dispositioned bird, and, though not par- 

 ticularly shy, it is nevertheless difficult to observe 

 closely, as it generally conceals itself in the 

 densest foliage while at rest, or else flits quickly 

 about from twig to twig in search of insects, on 

 which it lives almost exclusively throughout the 

 summer months. . . . 



" Few birds do more good and less harm than 

 our Orchard Oriole, especially to the fruit-grower. 

 The bulk of its food consists of small beetles, 



