146 Birds Every Child Should Know 



in grayish olive green, more yellowish under- 

 neath, that you may scarcely notice her as she 

 glides among the trees; but her mate is more 

 conspicuous, however quietly dressed in black 

 and reddish chestnut — even sombrely dressed 

 as compared with his flashy orange and black 

 cousin, the Baltimore oriole. Nevertheless, 

 it takes him two, or possibly three years to 

 attain his fine clothes. By that time his song 

 is rich, sweet and strong. 



Do orioles generally take special delight in 

 the music of a piano? An orchard oriole who 

 used to come close to our house to feed on the 

 basket worms dangling from a tamarix bush, 

 returned long after the last worm had been 

 eaten whenever someone touched the keys. 

 And I have known more than one Baltimore 

 oriole to fly about the house, joyously singing, 

 as if attracted and excited by the music in-doors. 



BALTIMORE ORIOLE 



Called also: Firebird; Golden Robin; Hang-nest; 

 Golden Oriole 



A flash of flame among the tender young 

 spring foliage ; a rich, high, whistled song from 

 the blossoming cherry trees, and every child 

 knows that the sociable Baltimore oriole has just 

 returned from Central America. BriUiant orange 



