110 Contributions from the Charleston Museum. 



Birds of America: * 



This handsome bird was first observed at Charleston, South Carohna, by my 

 son John Woodhouse, who shot and figured a male the size of nature; the bird 

 when first seen was perched on the point of a lightning-rod close by the house of 

 my friend the Reverend John Bachman, D. D. A few days afterwards others 

 were seen, but although a female was shot, it fell in the river and was lost. I am 

 informed that since that period, small groups of four or half a dozen make their 

 appearance in the same city, and on the neighbouring islands. 



This record of tiie occurrence of the Troupial at. Charleston 

 still remains unique for North America — no additional specimens 

 having been taken. The Troupial is a South American species. 



190. Icterus spurius (Linn.). Orchard Oriole. 



This oriole is a summer resident known on the coast as the 

 "Sanguillah." Dr. Ramsay, in his History of South Carolina, 

 published more than a hundred years ago, gives the above name 

 to this species. 



My earliest records for the arrival of this bird are April 7, 1895, 

 and April 6, 1908. A few remain until the beginning of Septem- 

 ber (one was seen in my yard September 8, 1909), but the great 

 majority migrate about the middle of August. 



This familiar species breeds abundantly, but generally near 

 settlements, and is rarely found in the interior of large tracts 

 of woodland. It continues to breed regularly in the heart of the 

 city of Charleston. The nest is constructed of a peculiar species 

 of long, green grass, and is woven with infinite care. It is fined 

 with feathers in some instances, but, as a rule, with the down 

 from willow trees. Some nests are built in bushes but the great 

 majority are built on the ends of drooping limbs of trees, from 

 ten to seventy feet above the ground. This species also builds 

 its nests in large festoons of the Spanish moss (Tillandsia usne- 

 oides). I have taken full complements of fresh eggs as early as 

 May 9, and as late as May 31 I have taken eggs which contained 

 large embryos. Only one brood is raised. The eggs, which are 

 four or five in number, are bluish white, spotted and streaked with 

 dark brown and pale lavender shell markings. They measure 

 .80X.57. Young males of the second year breed in a plumage 

 which resembles the female except that the lores, chin, and throat 

 are black. 



The Orchard Oriole breeds as far north as North Dakota, and 

 winters in Colombia. 



»VII, 357. 



