62 THE ORliGON NATURALIST. 



BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. 



Icterus Bnllocki. 



This bird — the only representative 

 of the Oriole Genus found in British 

 Columbia — is rather a rare Summer 

 resident in this Province; and, so far, 

 has only been noted in the Valley of 

 the Columbia River, it has been 

 known to nest at a few points. 



The nest of this bird, like that of its 

 near relative, the Baltimore Oriole, is 

 among the wonders of bird architec- 

 ture. This nest is made in the form 

 of a long purse and suspended from 

 several small twigs or crooked 

 branches of trees, mostly those that 

 are drooping or hanging over a water 

 course, and at various elevations from 

 the ground, ranging from ten to sixty 

 feet. Thej' are usually well concealed 

 among the thick foliage and composed 

 of a variety of such fine fibrous mater- 

 ials, either of a vegetable or animal 

 naluie, as it finds in its vicinit\% and 

 suitable to its purpo.se. This material 

 may be fibers of bark, pieces of string, 

 blades of grass, cotton rags, flax 

 thread, or hair from the tails of cattle 

 or horses, all carefully woven together 

 and to some extent cemented by the 

 saliva of the bird emitted in the pro- 

 cess of construction; .so that when it is 

 completed it is quite firm on the out- 

 side. 



The sets of eggs deposited by this 

 species ranges from four to six; tlie.se 

 aie of a creamy-white hue with a 

 pinki.sh or blui.sh tinge; and variously 

 and curiously marked and mottled 

 v(7ith strokes and dots of light brown, 

 or blackish; mo,stly on the larger end. 

 These eggs average in size .85 x .65. 



This bird appears to subsist wholly 

 on insects which it gleans mostly from 

 the foliage of trees and bushes, seldom 

 approaching the ground except to 

 pick up some materials lor its nest. 

 Its song notes are not among the most 

 melodious that fall upon the ear in 

 tho.se regions wlieie it makes its 

 haunts and home, but it has a pleas- 

 ing effect, as the notes seem always to 

 be delivered in a joyous spiiit and to 

 evince the happy feelings of the bird 

 it.self, to whose person the attention of 

 the student of nature is thereby direc- 

 ted, and whose beautiful plumage 

 when seen among the summer foliage 

 of the loiest trees or the blossoms of 

 the orchard, cannot fail to delight the 

 e3'e of all who have a genuine appre- 

 ciation of the beauties of nature. 



The male of this species is between 

 eight and nine inches in length, and 

 is clothed in a most beautiful varie- 

 gated plumage of orange and black 

 intermingled with whitish yellow, 

 dusky and olive, a long description 

 of which would give but a faint idea 

 of the reality, which must be viewed 

 on the living bird in older to be]under- 

 stood. The garb of the female Otiole 

 is of a much duller hue than that of 

 the male, and the color of the 

 young in their nesting garb is very 

 similar to that of the mother bird. 



This .species receives its specific 

 name from Mr. Wm. Bullock, a natu- 

 ralist of London, and in its habits, 

 modes of life, form and general color- 

 ing it corresponds to the Baltimore 

 Oriole, of which it is the general rep- 

 re.sentative from the Western Plains to 

 the Shores of the Pacific. 



Wm. L. KeIvLS. 



