A SUMMER CHORUS 119 



The Orchard Oriole is an excellent nest 

 builder. He suspends from a conveniently 

 forked branch, a basket-like structure skillfully- 

 woven of fibrous materials and neatly lined with 

 fine grass and hair. Sometimes it is placed in the 

 fork of a branch. The eggs are three to five in 

 number, bluish white, marked, spotted and 

 scrawled with dark brown or black. This bird 

 is about seven and one-half inches long. They 

 range in summer from the Gulf States to Massa- 

 chusetts and Ontario, wintering in the tropics. 

 They arrive in the vicinity of New York in 

 early May. 



Baltimore Oriole. A very handsome mem- 

 ber of our summer chorus is the Baltimore 

 Oriole, the bird that was found by the early 

 settlers of Maryland so proudly wearing the 

 orange and black of their leader. Lord Balti- 

 more, that he has since borne that distinguished 

 name. Flashing about in the treetops, he is so 

 brilliant that he has been given the name of 

 Firebird. His bold and martial notes would 

 attract attention were his dress less showy, for 

 his vocal efforts are very prominent in the bird 

 choir. He sings in clear, rich tones, slightly 

 metallic, a variety of songs, none of which seem 

 to be quite finished. His vocabulary also is 

 varied, and we hear many clearly whistled notes 

 somewhat softer than his songs. Altogether he 

 is a very noisy fellow from his arrival in May 

 till the nesting time is passed. Then, in com- 

 pany with his plainly dressed family, he jour- 

 neys about with much conversation to be sure, 

 but less of his warlike trumpeting. All in all, he 



