214 EEPOET OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



Throughout the early summer the varied warbling song may be 

 heard constantly from the tops of the apple trees, or from the ever- 

 greens about the lawn, while the performer manages to keep himself 

 well concealed. 



This Oriole seems to be more common in the southern half of the 

 State, while the Baltimore is certainly more common in the northern 

 counties. 



507 Icterus galbula (Linnaeus). 

 Baltimore Oriole. 



PLATE 52. 



Adult male. — Length, 7-8. Wing, 3.75. Entire head, throat and upper parts, 

 except the rump, black ; rump and lower parts, bright orange ; lesser and 

 middle wing-coverts, orange ; greater-coverts broadly tipped and tertials edged 

 with white ; three outer tail feathers yellow on the terminal half, next feather 

 with a yellow spot. 



Adult female. — Above, dull yellow-olive, brightest on the tail ; wings, dusky, 

 with two white wing bars and white tips to the tertials ; lower parts, dull 

 orange yellow, paler on the abdomen. Occasionally there is some trace of 

 black on the head, throat and tail. 



Young in first autumn. — Similar to adult female, but never showing any 

 black. 



Young in first summer. — Dull grayish-olive above, brighter on tail ; wing 

 bars and tips, gray ; below, pale grayish-olive. 



Males in first breeding season retain the dusky primaries and many of them 

 the uniform yellow-olive tail feathers of the first autumn dress, while the middle 

 of the abdomen is dull yellow. 



Nest long and pocket-like, woven of string, horsehair, shreds of bark and 

 plant fiber ; eggs, four to six, grayish-white, with irregular "pen lines" of black 

 and brown, .90 x .60. 



Common summer resident, except in the Pine Barrens and the 

 southern counties, where it is mainly or wholly a transient. Arrives 

 May 1st (May 5th), departs September 1st. 



Like the Orchard Oriole, the present species is a home bird, always 

 about our houses, nesting in the shade trees, especially in the weeping 

 willows and buttonwoods. The rollicking song is quite as pleasing as 

 that of the other species, while the brilliant orange and black of his 

 plumage renders the Baltimore Oriole one of our most welcome neigh- 

 bors. His utility is also noteworthy, as over eighty per cent, of his 

 food consists of insects, largely caterpillars, for which he searches 

 diligently in the tree-tops. 



