276 U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 211 



following observation by J. G. Tyler (1913) : "The small yellow butter- 

 fly that is found in such numbers in alfalfa fields at certain seasons 

 seems to be especially attractive to the orioles, and countless dozens 

 of them are devoured. I have seen this bird in the role of flycatcher 

 at such times, flying from a fence wire and seizing a butterfly on the 

 wing, a rather clumsy effort but serving the purpose." 



Economic status. — From the above account of its feeding habits 

 we must conclude that, although Bullock's oriole unquestionably does 

 some damage to cultivated fruits and berries, it more than pays for 

 this by the large number of harmful insects that it destroys, an action 

 that is of real benefit to the agriculturalist. For this reason, and 

 because the beauty of its gorgeous plumage and its charming song 

 bring so much joy to so many people, it should be rigidly protected 

 and encouraged to live and breed about our farms, ranches, and 

 gardens. 



Behavior. — As mentioned above, Bullock's orioles are most devoted 

 parents and staunch defenders of their nests, eggs, and young. 

 Clarence Cottam (MS.) sends me his observations of the bird in south- 

 eastern Utah: "In this locality the orioles were quite numerous and 

 were in the midst of their nesting season. Magpies (Pica pica hudsonia) 

 also were very common. One of these omnivorous feeders, a juvenile 

 about one-half to two thirds grown, was observed circling about an 

 oriole's nest as though searching for a breakfast of eggs. The magpie 

 soon alighted in the tree in which the nest was hanging and began to 

 come closer and closer to the beautiful swinging structure. Almost 

 at the instant the magpie settled upon the edge of the nest, the male 

 oriole, which apparently was but a few rods away, was heard to give 

 an abrupt and angry call of warning. A moment later the enraged 

 male came with all his force at the intruder, striking it on the crown 

 of the head. The magpie dropped to the ground, stunned to such an 

 extent that I was able to pick it up, and only after 10 minutes could it 

 regain sufficient strength to fly away." 



W. L. Finley (1907) made some observations on a pair of these ori- 

 oles that nested near his house, saying: 



I never saw birds more in love than the orioles were. We watched them from 

 the time they were first mated. They were always together in the trees about the 

 orchard. * * * Just at the side of the house were three large cherry trees with 

 wide-spreading branches almost to the windows. When the dark shades were 

 drawn the windows made a very good mirror. One day when the pair of orioles 

 were playing about the cherry trees I saw the female light on a low branch in 

 front of the window. Then in a few moments she flew down and lit on the sash. 

 The next day I saw both the orioles at the window. The male sat near on the 

 branches and the female on the sill. As I watched she fluttered up against the 

 window, trying her best to hang on, till she slipped down to the bottom. Then 

 she turned her head and watched in the glass. The more she looked the more 



