204 U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 211 



sometimes visiting orchards. After August 20 the species is seen only 

 occasionally, though we may come upon a few later in the month, or 

 in early September, exceptionally later (September 17, 1903, New 

 Haven; September 21, 1903, Kansas City)." 



Kopman (1915) says: "This species becomes inconspicuous at Gulf 

 coast latitudes after the middle of August, though little companies of 

 them may be in evidence for a few days at a time at intervals until 

 Sept. 10 or 15. Such transients usually form part of slight waves 

 including other species. The latest date of departure is Sept. 26, 1914, 

 near Poydras, St. Bernard parish Louisiana. The average date of 

 departure is about Sept. 15." 



F. M. Weston writes to me: "The orchard oriole is the first summer 

 resident to disappear from the Pensacola region. It becomes rare 

 early in July and, in some years, it is not seen after July 15. Ordi- 

 narily an occasional bird appears in August and, twice in a period of 

 thirty years, I have recorded occurrence in September — September 1, 

 1940, and September 3, 1944. In both cases these were apparently 

 family groups of young birds. This suggests that the birds that are suc- 

 cessful in their family affairs leave early in July, and it is only the few 

 that are delayed by having to 'try, try again' that make up the sparse 

 August population 



"The fall migration route of the orchard oriole is certainly not a 

 reversal of the spring route. Then, as noted above, they come across 

 the Gulf in tremendous numbers and pass through this region on their 

 way to more northerly breeding grounds. In fall, when a successful 

 breeding season must have at least doubled their numbers and even a 

 poor season would not have diminished them, few orioles are seen. 

 During 30 years of continuous field observation, I have never under 

 any circumstances of favorable or adverse weather conditions seen any 

 concentrations of orioles, though it is a common experience to find 

 thousands of migrants of other species weatherbound on this coast on 

 several occasions every fall. Our local breeding population of orioles 

 merely withdraws from this region, and no birds from more northerly 

 areas come in to replace them." 



There seem to be few fall records for southern Florida, none for the 

 Florida Keys and none for Cuba. By what route these orioles migrate 

 to their winter homes in Central America and northern South America 

 does not seem to be known. Some may migrate across the Gulf 

 farther west, or they may follow the coasts of Texas and Mexico, but 

 conclusive data are lacking. 



Grimes (1931) gives the following account of their disappearance 

 from northeastern Florida: 



Late in June the oriole's singing begins to diminish in force, and discordant 

 notes creep in as the song becomes broken and unmusical. After the first week 



