80 Sketches of Some Common Birds. 



The orchard oriole belongs to the eastern United States, 

 ranging westward to the edge of the great plains^ and 

 northward to the southern parts of Ontario. Its breeding 

 range extends southward to the Eio Grande. It leaves 

 the United States to pass the winter in Mexico, Central 

 America, Cuba, and adjacent regions. On its return from 

 the south it travels more leisurely than its more noted 

 relative, and reaches central Illinois generally several 

 days later than the date on which the Baltimore oriole ap- 

 prises us of his advent. On its arrival it evinces its 

 pleasure in greeting familiar scenes by its loud, nervous 

 song. It never appears here before the last week of 

 April or the first week of May, as it has no delight in bare 

 branches and dull skies, and must await the unfolding of 

 the buds and blossoms of the orchard and garden trees. 



The male is very noticeable because of his frequent 

 song and hurried movements, both on the wing and 

 among the vernal clothing of the trees he frequents. The 

 female, however, attracts less attention, for she has a 

 shyer disposition, and her dress is dull when compared 

 with the showy apparel of her sprightly spouse. The at- 

 tractive black velvet in his robe is represented by plainer 

 olive and brown in her gown; and the chestnut-brown 

 which adorns his under parts, by greenish-yellow in her 

 corresponding parts; and she seems to have no time for 

 the apparently frivolous engagements of her restless hus- 

 band, but spends her time more judiciously in attending 

 to her household duties. However, the male does not 

 neglect his duties to his wife and family, if he does love 

 to hurry about the neighborhood in his important manner. 

 A large part of his time is spent in finding choice tidbits 

 for the family table, and much of his nervousness is mani- 

 fested while seeking dainties for his quiet wife in her 

 snug and tidy home. 



If the bobolink has a counterpart in vivacity and volu- 

 bility among our Western birds, it is surely the orchard 

 oriole. In our walks over meadows, we see this rollick- 

 ing oriole clinging to the stems of the vervains, scolding 

 in a jingle no less jingling than the fluent outbursts of 

 the bobolink. Now he rises, uttering his hurried notes 

 in confusing time and in loud, eager manner, and away 



