402 HISTORY OF THE 



This western form is similar in habits and actions to the east- 

 ern bird, and differs so slightly in markings and color that were 

 it not for its widely different song — rather bugle-like — it would 

 have a doubtful standing as a race. It is thought by some writ- 

 ers to be less suspicious and more at home about our dwellings; 

 this I account for on the ground that they are seldom disturbed 

 or shot at, as is too often the case in the Eastern States. 



Nesting habits, color and form of the eggs the same. A set 

 of four eggs, collected April 26th, 1877, at Santa Cruz, Califor- 

 nia, measure: 1.08X.78, 1.08X.79, 1.08x.80, 1.09x.81. 



Genus ICTERUS Bkissok. 



"Bill slender, elongated, as long as the head, generally a little decurved and 

 very acute; tarsi not longer than the middle toe, nor than the head; claws short, 

 much curved; outer lateral toe a little longer than the inner, reaching a little 

 beyond base of middle toe; feet adapted for perching; tail rounded or graduated. 

 Prevailing colors yellow or orange and black." 



Subgenus PENDULINUS Vieillot. 



Not tenable, there being a gradual transition through intermediate forms be- 

 tween the type and the typical species of Icterus. (Bidgway.) 



Icterus spurius (Linn.). 



ORCHARD ORIOLE. 

 PLATE XXV. 



Summer resident; abundant. Arrive the last of April to first 

 of May; begin laying the last of May; return the last of August 

 to middle of September. 



B. 414. Pv. 270. C. 334. G. 135, 195. U. 506. 



Habitat. Eastern United States; west to the base of the 



Rocky Mountains; south in winter to Panama. 



Sp. Chab. Adult male: Head, neck, middle of chest, back, scapulars, wings 

 (except middle and lesser coverts) and tail deep black, the greater wing coverts, 

 quills and secondaries edged more or less distinctly with pale chestnut or whit- 

 ish; rest of plumage uniform rich dark chestnut or bay, deepest on breast. 

 Adult female: Upper parts yellowish olive, much duller and grayer on back and 

 scapulars; wings grayish dusky, with two white bands, all the feathers with 

 paler brownish gray edgings, tail yellowish olive, like rump, etc.; lower parts 

 entirely light olive yellow. Young male, second year: Similar to adult male, 

 but lores, chin and throat black — (the chestnut and rest of the black appearing 

 iu patches, increasing in extent during successive seasons.) Young of year: 



