FAMILY srcrerid2. 
After observing the Oriole, one realizes how unlike the 
Robin he is in vocal habit and method of work. He 
carefully searches every leaf among the smaller branches 
of some tree near that in which his mate sits on her nest, 
and at the same time whistles a note or two perhaps to 
assure her of his whereabouis, but in a very desultory 
manner, as if business were too important to waste any 
time in song. His note is immediately changed, how- 
ever, if anybody approaches the nest or any harm 
threatens, then it becomes excited, harsh, and metallic, 
and is often repeated in a series of rapid, high tones sent 
out as a warning to his mate. When all is quiet again, 
he resumes his hunt for food, and soliloquizes now and 
then, much as Wilson says, ‘‘ with the pleasing tran- 
quility of a careless ploughboy, whistling merely for his 
own amusement.” 
He soliloquizes as he hunts for caterpillars; then breaks ito song 
mp 
~S 5 
This is song No. 38 of the foregoing dotted records. 
Rarely the Oriole invades the garden and helps himself 
to green peas, but asa rule his food is arboreal in charac- 
ter, and consists of beetles, caterpillars, grubs, and ants. 
PurpleGrackle. The solemn, large Blackbird with an 
Crow Black- iridescent violet-blue neck, which walks 
gee le with some deliberation over the ploughed 
SSE ground of spring, especially in the region 
L. 12.00 to south of Massachusetts extending to 
13-25inches Georgia, is the Purple Grackle. His head, 
March 10th ~—s neck, throat, and a limited part of the 
breast are lustrous violet-blue with steel-blue and green- 
blue intermingled; back and rump metallic bottle-green 
70 
