BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 145 



vrild plaintiveness and naivete, extremely interesting. It is not uttered 

 with the rapidity of the ferruginous thrush {^Turdus rufus), and some 

 other eminent songsters ; but with the pleasing tranquillity of a care- 

 less ploughboy, whistling merely for his own amusement. When 

 alarmed by an approach to his nest, or any such circumstances, he 

 makes a kind of rapid chirruping, very different from his usual note. 

 This, however, is always succeeded by those mellow tones, which seem 

 so congenial to his nature. 



High on yon poplar, clad in glossiest green, 

 The orange, black-capped Baltimore is seen, 

 The broad extended boughs still please him best; 

 Beneath their bending skirts he hangs his nest; 

 There his sweet mate, secure from every harm, 

 Broods o'er her spotted store, and wraps them warm; 

 Lists to the noontide hum of busy bees. 

 Her partners mellow song, the brook, the breeze ; 

 These, day by day, the lonely hours deceive, 

 From dewy morn to slow descending eve. 

 Two weeks elapsed, behold a helpless crewl 

 Claim all her care and her affection too ; 

 On wings of love the assiduous nurses fly. 

 Flowers, leaves and boughs, abundant food supply ; 

 Glad chants their guardian as abroad he goes. 

 And waving breezes rock them to repose. 



The Baltimore inhabits North America, from Canada to Mexico, and 

 is even found as far south as Brazil. Since the streets of our cities 

 have been planted with that beautiful and stately tree, the Lombardy 

 poplar, these birds are our constant visitors during the early part of 

 summer ; and amid the noise and tumult of coaches, drays, wheelbar- 

 rows, and the din of the multitude, they are heard chanting "their 

 native wood-notes wild ;" sometimes too within a few yards of an oyster- 

 man, who stands bellowing with the lungs of a Stentor, under the shade 

 of the same tree ; so much will habit reconcile even birds to the roar of 

 the city, and to sounds and noises, that in other circumstances, would 

 put a whole grove of them to flight. 



These birds are several years in receiving their complete plumage. 

 Sometimes the whole tail of a male individual, in spring, is yellow, 

 sometimes only the two middle feathers are black, and frequently the 

 black on the back is skirted with orange, and the tail tipped with the same 

 color. Three years, I have reason to believe, are necessary to fix the 

 full tint of the plumage, and then the male bird appears as already 

 described. 



Vol. I.— 10 



