78 Sketches of Some Common Birds. 



resorts. However, it has some traits of the Bohemian, 

 and frequently visits the elms and other trees of the door- 

 jard where the Baltimore oriole has taken prior claim, 

 though it seldom tarries long, and ever appears to be in a 

 hurry. Like its more brightly attired congener, it loves 

 to linger among the willows and other trees which shade 

 the banks of the smaller water-courses. It generally fre- 

 quents trees of lower height than its relative, and rarely 

 swings its grass-woven home in the tops of the high 

 maples and elms, as does the Baltimore oriole at times. 

 Its movements are in strong contrast to the leisurely 

 actions of the Baltimore oriole, for everywhere it assumes 

 a nervous, hurried air, both on the wing and among the 

 leaves and twigs. Note its restlessness as it hops from 

 twig to twig, or takes short :flights from one branch to 

 another in gleaning its insect food from the buds and 

 tender foliage. Its movements in clinging head down- 

 ward in its efforts to reach a tempting morsel remind us 

 that many of the warblers have the same habit. Swinging 

 thus momentarily from the extremity of twig or branch, 

 it utters the sweet song which contains suggestions of the 

 notes of the Baltimore oriole, the robin, and the rose- 

 breasted grosbeak; its lyrics, however, are inferior to the 

 rich, full eloquence of the first and last mentioned species, 

 and are more expressive than the carols of the robin in 

 their greater fervor and continuity. 



The birds belonging to the family Icteridce are, for the 

 most part, noticeable in their habit of singing while on 

 the win^, and the orchard oriole is no exception to the 

 rule. When nearing a perch, he begins to overflow with 

 melody long suppressed, and pours forth his notes so 

 rapidly that they seem to crowd one upon another and be- 

 come confused in their execution. The lively disposition 

 of the songster discovers itself in the joyous character of 

 the notes gushing so ecstatically from the vibrating 

 throat, and we intuitively note the difference between this 

 expression of happiness and the loud, rich plaint of the 

 Baltimore oriole. As the merry melody of the orchard 

 oriole comes to our ears, we are charmed with the rapidly 

 enunciated arias, and quickly turn our eyes to follow the 

 form of the musician hurrying to a position among the 



