The Audubon Societies 307 



like the Hairy and Downy. How far this anatomical peculiarity governs its food-habits 

 is not precisely known, but undoubtedly, it has something to do with this species' fond- 

 ness for sap and the living tissues of trees. Elliott Coues says: "The tongue is protrusible 

 only about one-third inch beyond the bill," and "is beset at the end by numerous brushy 

 filaments, instead of the few acute barbs commonly observed in the family." Forbush 

 lists the Sapsucker with the birds which eat hairy caterpillars and the pupae or imagos 

 of injurious insects. During thirty years, he has found no appreciable damage done by 

 this species in Massachusetts, although he says there can be no doubt that it has killed 

 trees further north where it breeds. Can we not get statistics for the kind of food eaten 

 by the Sapsuckers during each month in the year? A. H. W.] 



Reference: See Inde.x to Papers Relating to Food of Birds, p. 63, Bull. 63, Biological 

 Survey, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE 



One morning, while seated on a fence near a maple tree, I heard a very 

 beautiful song. 



As it was so early in spring, I wondered what kind of a bird it was, and 

 whence it came. Part of its song resembled the cry of the Martin. While I 

 sat looking up into the tree, I saw a beautiful streak of orange and black fly 

 o\ er my head. It was an Oriole; I knew this at once. 



Later in the day, going out of the back entrance of the school, I saw the 

 Baltimore Oriole perched in the top of a big cottonwood tree, singing with 

 all his might. He was orange and black, a fully matured bird; I knew this 

 because the bird does not get these colors until the third year. Before this 

 the orange on the wings is yellow. 



These beautiful birds have no especial range. They are found from Canada 

 to Brazil. They receive their name from Lord Baltimore, the English colonist, 

 because orange and black were his colors. Their nest is usually hung from the 

 fork of a limb on strong, stout strings. 



In the evening on leaving school, I went and sat down under the cottonwood 

 tree, and watched the bird. Then, after a time, as I watched him closely, I 

 saw him fly to a slender branch in the top of the tree. At this I was greatly 

 surprised, for on the end of the limb I saw the nest of the Oriole, resembling 

 very much a large, black ball, hanging there. 



Since then I have often gone and sat under the tree. I am afraid to chmb 

 it, as it is so high, to look at the eggs or young. 



Next year I am going to watch and see if the Orioles come back, and if 

 they bring their young to live in the big cottonwood tree. — Wm. Brod- 

 ERicK (aged 14), 1003 Belle St., Alton, 111. 



[It is well to study carefully the range of each species . The Baltimore Oriole is found 

 in eastern North America as far west as the Rocky Mountains. It breeds from Florida 

 and eastern Texas all the way north to New Brunswick and the Saskatchewan plains, 

 while it spends the winter in Central and South America. The observation about the 

 color of the male's plumage is further explained by the statement of certain writers that, 



