92 SINGING BIRDS. 



appear to afford them no kind of nutrition, and at all times 

 they will thrive better if indulged with a little annual food or 

 insects, as well as hard-boiled eggs. 



The summer range of this beautiful bird in the fur countries 

 extends to the 55 th degree of latitude, arriving on the plains 

 of the Saskatchewan, according to Richardson, about the loth 

 of May, or nearly as early as their arrival in Massachusetts. 

 Those which thus visit the wilds of Canada in all probability 

 proceed at once from Mexico, or ascend the great valley of 

 the Mississippi and Missouri. 



I have had a male bird in a state of domestication raised from 

 the nest very readily on fresh minced meat soaked in milk. 

 When established, his principal food was scalded Indian corn- 

 meal, on which he fed contentedly, but was also fond of sweet 

 cakes, insects of all descriptions, and nearly every kind of fruit. 

 In short, he ate everything he would in a state of nature, and 

 did not refuse to taste and eat of everything but the condi- 

 ments which enter into the multifarious diet of the human 

 species : he was literally omnivorous. 



No bird could become more tame, allowing himself to be 

 handled with patient indifference, and sometimes with play- 

 fulness. The singular mechanical application of his bill was 

 remarkable, and explains at once the ingenious art employed 

 by the species in weaving their nest. If the folded hand was 

 presented to our familiar Oriole, he endeavored to open it by 

 inserting his pointed and straight bill betwixt the closed fingers, 

 and then by pressing open the bill with great muscular force, 

 in the manner of an opening pair of compasses, he contrived, 

 if the force was not great, to open the hand and examine its 

 contents. If brought to the f.ice he did the same with the 

 mouth, and would try hard to open the closed teeth. In this 

 way, by pressing open any yielding interstice, he could readily 

 insert the threads of his nest, and pass them through an infinity 

 of openings, so as to form the ingenious net- work or basis of his 

 suspensory and procreant cradle. 



This is a familiar bird throughout the greater part of this faunal 

 province north to the southern portions of Ontario and Quebec, 



