ORCHARD ORIOLE. 



443 



Youniifcirmlr. Similar to the mhilt hut murli prilor, O'^prcinlly on t!i<- baclt. Tlic wini."; ;ir(' lighter ami have more 

 white on tlicui. 



J^cxtihiys. Quite li!:o the adult faraale hut very pak'-ycUow tliroUL'hout, hut area little darker ahi>vi'. \Vinj;sand tail 

 !!:; in the :ibove for they are not nioulted. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Tiicrc is hut little variation in plumage among birds of the same age and ses from the same locality, so that they may 

 readily he distinguished by the eolors as described. Distributed in suuuucr throughout the Eastern Section of the United 

 States, south of JI;issachusatts. Winters south of the United States. 



DDIENSIONS. 



Average measurements of twenty specimens. Length, G02; stretch, 9'50; wing, 3'00; tail, .310; billfi-O; tai'sus,-70. 

 Longest specimen, 7'25; greatest extent of wing, lO'OO; longest wing, 3-25; tail, 3-25; bill, -00; tarsus -75. Shortest si)eei- 

 men, G-00; smallest extent of wing, 9-25; shortest wing, 2-75; tail, 3-00; bill, -60; tai-sus, -05. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, ]ilaeed in trees, not very pendulous in form, composed of fine, tough grass firmly woven together. Dimeasions; 

 extorniil diameter, 4'00, internal, '2'00. External depth, 2'50, internal, 1'50. 



Efj(/s, four to six in number, oval in form, pale-blue in color, spotted, dotted, and sometimes lined, with uml)er and 

 lilac. Dimensions from '80 x" 60 to '85 x '05. 



IIABfTS. 



The city of Wilmington, North Carolina, is pleasantly situated on a high bluir which 

 overlooks Cape Fear River. Like many of the Southern cities, the streets arc well shaded 

 with live oaks and other trees which as a natural result attract many birds. On visiting 

 this place, May 25, 1872, I found that the foliage was swarming with various species of 

 the feathered tribe, but none were more prominent than the Orchard Orioles. This was 

 partly due to their abundance bnt they rendered themselves noticeable by the loud, clear 

 whistle which sounded out in all directions. This song, although similar to that of the 

 Baltimore Oriole, is in many respects not' as varied luit is, notwithstanding, very fine. 

 The Orchard Orioles were about to breed in Wilmington, and I saw tht; females carrying 

 material for their nests. This is seemingly ([uite late to Isegin laying so far .south; indeed 

 I found them with eggs at Williamsport, Pennsylvania,, about the same date, and have seen 

 a nest full of eggs in Massachusetts as early as June. 



This Oriole differs somewhat in habits from the Baltimore inasmuch as it nearly al- 

 ways places its nest on an apple or other low tree, in the fork of a limb and not suspondetl 

 from it. They have the very restless movements which characterize this genus. One may 

 be seen clinging to the lowest branches of a tree, then with the rapidity of thought will 

 bound upwards, and swing from the topmost bough where he remains only for a moment, 

 however, as suddenly catching sight of a passing female, he darts off in pursuit followed by 

 one or two others, for like the Baltimore, the males arc rather promiscuous in their atten- 

 tions. On account of their preferring low trees a« homes, they frequent the neighborhood 

 of houses in Pennsylvaniji, nesting in the fruit trees, and tire seldom seen on the river in 

 company with the Baltimore Oriole. Nor did I ever see the two species associating to- 

 gether anywhere. 



The young make their appearance in the trees about the middle ol' July but \\\vy 

 migrate very soon, as I did not find them at all during the last week of August. 



i;iiii).^ or ii.oniiM. 19 



