BALTIMORE UlilULE. iil 



IIAI5ITS. 

 'Wlicn tlio warm, rovivinn: breath of the south wind has canscfl the cherry trees of 

 New Englantl to put forth their blossoms, the first notes of the Baltimore Orioles are heard. 

 I do not think I ever knew a single season to pass when these lovely birds did not appear 

 promptly as soon as the cherry trees were in bloom, for they arc extremely fond of frc- 

 (lueuting- them in order to feed on the insects which infest them at this season. As they 

 swing gracefully from the topmost boughs, their brilliant plumage forms a fine contrast 

 with the snowy flowers which surround them, while at intervals th« perfumed air is filled 

 with bursts of that clear, i-inging melody which is always a sure indication that summer 

 has fairly come. Later the dark-green foliage on the lofty branches of the grand old elms 

 which beautify so many of our streets is enlivened by their presence. Indeed of all the 

 ornamental trees which are to be found in villages, the elm appears to be the prime favor- 

 ite with the Orioles for these birds seldom occur f\ir from dwellings when their chosen 

 trees stand in the immediate vicinity of them. In some portions of Pennsylvania, howev- 

 er, where but little attention is paid to planting trees about the houses, they almost always 

 inhabit small groves, seeming to prefer the lofty trees in the immediate neighborhood of 

 water. 



The Susquehanna River at Williamsport is some three hundred and fifty yards in \vidth 

 and is filled with numerous small, wooded islands upon which the Baltimore Orioles abound, 

 in fact I never saw them more abundant in any given locality. It was here that I first 

 obtained the specimen with the peculiar yellow plumage of which I Yvm'h spoken, but these 

 only occurred at one particular point on the River, all of the other birds being in normal 

 dress. This was about the middle of May when they were migrating, which would partly 

 account for the large numbers that had congregated together, but later when they were 

 nesting, they were still numerous, proving that it was an attractive place for them. The 

 birds which remained there were remarkable on account of having a peculiar song that 

 consisted of several short, though sweet, notes repeated rapidly. The effect, however, 

 was very pleasing, but I wa? much surprised to find that the females sang nearly as well 

 as the males. It is a fact that no two birds even of the same species sing exactly alike 

 although the difference is oftentimes so very slight that it is extremely difficult to detect, 

 but I know of very few, if any, among our native birds where there is so much individual 

 variation in the song as in that of the Baltimore Orioles. It is also noticeable that the 

 peculiar lay of some individuals is freq^uently inherited by their offspring. Thus I know of 

 several places where all the Orioles utter notes which are similar but which I never heard 

 elsewhere. But a particular song is not always imparted by the parent to its descendants; 

 for example, one of the finest singers that I ever heard was an Oriole that built for several 

 years in an huge pear tree which stands back of my place in Newtonville. Tliis bird Ix'- 

 sides having a variety of clear, liquid notes which were perfectly enchanting, i'rcquently 

 uttei'ed a series of loud whistles which soumled almost exactly like those given by the 

 Great-crested Flycatcher, yet I never heard any other Oriole attempt anything like them. 

 The melody of the Baltimore Orioles, although so varied that it is simply indescribable, 

 hii3 a singular (dear richness of tone which renders it unmistakal)le whenever heard. Their 



