ICTERID^ — THE ORIOLES. 185 



can, although we doubt very much whether the species was ever taken within 

 our limits, except as escaped from captivity. 



An allied race (/. longirostris) from New Grenada has a longer and more 

 slender bill, and a paler, lemon-yellow color. The /. aurantius of Brazil 

 lacks the long, pointed, distinct feathers of the throat, and is of an intensely 

 rich orange-red color, with much the same pattern as the present bird. 



Habits. The common Troupial of South America and some of the West 

 India Islands is probably only an imported species, or an accidental visitant. 

 It is given by Mr. Audubon in the appendix to his seventh volume, on the 

 strength of a specimen shot in Charleston, S. C, by his son, John W. The 

 bird, when first seen, was perched on the point of the lightning-rod of Dr. 

 Bachman's house. A few days after others were seen, one of which was 

 shot, though it fell into the river and was lost. Mr. Audubon was after- 

 wards informed that small groups of four or five subsequently made their 

 appearance in the same city and among the islands. If his information was 

 correct, it precludes the supposition that those which have been procured 

 are caged birds. Yet the Troupial is so common and so popular a bird in 

 the cage, that its accidental occurrence is possible in many localities it never 

 visits of its own accord. 



This bird is common in all the northern countries of South America, 

 Venezuela, Guiana, Rio Negro, Northern Brazil, etc. Its occurrence in Ja- 

 maica and the West Indies may be only accidental. It is said by Daudin 

 to be a common species in South America, where it associates in large flocks, 

 and constructs a large and pensile nest. In confinement it becomes very 

 easily tamed, is reconciled to a life of imprisonment, and is very fond 

 of those who feed and care for it. It has a loud, clear, and ringing 

 whistle, and a great variety of call-notes and single or brief utterances, but 

 rarely indulges in a continuous song. One kept in confinement several years 

 answered readily to tlie name of Troofy, and always promptly responded, 

 when thus addressed by his mistress, in notes of unmistakable and affec- 

 tionate recognition. He was very fond of his liberty, and used his sharp 

 bill with such effect that it was difficult to keep him in his cage. When at 

 large he never attempted to escape, but returned upon being called. He, 

 however, acquired such a mortal antipathy to children, attacked them so 

 fiercely when at large, and his sharp bill was so dangerous a weapon, that it 

 was found very necessary to keep him a close prisoner. 



The eggs of this species measure 1.02 inches in length by .88 of an inch 

 in breadth ; they are a rounded, obtuse oval in shape. Their ground-color 

 is a reddish-drab, and they are very generally blotclied with markings of a 

 deep claret-brown and faint purple, the markings being deeper and larger at 

 one end. 



VOL. II. 24 



