ICTERIDyE — THE ORIOLES. 191 



Winter specimens from Mexico have the black obscured by brownish 

 borders to the feathers. 



Habits. The Orcliard Oriole is found abundant throughout most of the 

 United States, from the Atlantic to the Missouri Valley, and on the south- 

 west to the valley of the Eio Grande. Mr. J. A. Allen met wath individuals 

 of this species as far west as the base of the Eocky Mountains, in Colorado, 

 which he regards as the extreme western limit. It is a very rare summer 

 visitant in New England, though found even as far eastward as Calais, Me. 

 It was not found in Western Maine by Verrill, nor am I aware of its having 

 been met with in either New Hampshire or Vermont. Mr. Allen states that 

 a few pairs breed every season near Springfield, in Western Massachusetts. 

 I have never met with it in the eastern part of the State, but others have 

 been more fortunate, and it is probable that a few visit us each season. 



In Texas Mr. Dresser found this species very common at San Antonio 

 during the summer, arriving there quite early in April. He procured a num- 

 ber of their nests, all of which were made of light-colored flexible grasses, 

 and suspended from the upper branches of the mesquite-trees. He also 

 found them breeding near Houston, and on Galveston Island. He describes 

 them as much smaller tlian birds from the Northern States. This smaller 

 race Mr. Lawrence has regarded as a distinct species, to which he gives the 

 name of affmis. It has been traced as far to the west as Fort Riley in Kan- 

 sas, and Fort Lookout in Nebraska. It winters in Guatemala, where it is 

 very abundant at that season. Mr. James McLeannan killed it as far south 

 as Panama. 



Dr. Elliott Coues considers this bird as rare and chiefly migrant in South 

 Carolina ; but Mr. H. S. Eodney (Naturalist, Jan., 1872) found them quite 

 numerous at Camden, in that State, in the summer of 1871. He met with 

 five nests between June 28 and July 19, and has no doubt he could have 

 taken many more, as he counted at least fifteen different pairs. From the 

 fact that Dr. Coues did not meet with any nest at Coltmibia, only thirty miles 

 distant, Mr. Eodney infers that this Oriole is very partial to certain favored 

 localities, as is also the Baltimore. 



The Orchard Oriole is an active, sprightly, and very lively species, and 

 possesses a very peculiar and somewhat remarkable song. Its notes are 

 very rapidly enunciated, and are both hurried and energetic. Some writers 

 speak of the song as confused, but this attribute is not in the utterance of 

 the song, the musician manifesting anything but confusion in the rapid and 

 distinct enunciation of his gushing notes. These may be too quick in their 

 utterance for the listener to follow, but they are w'onderful both for their 

 rapidity and their harmony. His performance consists of shrill and lively 

 notes, uttered with an apparent air of great agitation, and they are quite as 

 distinct and agreeable, though neither so full nor so rich, as are those of the 

 more celebrated Golden Eobin. 



In the Central States, from New York to North Carolina, these birds are 



