Baltimore Oriole 147 



and black feathers like his could no more be 

 concealed than the fiery Httle redstart's; and 

 as if they alone were not enough to advertise 

 his welcome presence in the neighbourhood, 

 he keeps up a rich, ringing, insistent whistle 

 that you can quickly learn to imitate. You 

 have often started all the roosters in your 

 neighbourhood to crowing, no doubt ; even so you 

 can ''whistle up" the mystified orioles, who are 

 always disposed to live near our homes. Al- 

 though the Baltimore oriole has a Southern 

 name, he is really more common at the North, 

 whereas the orchard oriole is more at home 

 south of New England. 



Lady Baltimore, who wears a yellowish -olive 

 dress with dusky wings and tail, has the repu- 

 tation of being one of the finest nest builders 

 in the world. To the end of a branch of some 

 tall shade tree, preferably an elm or willow, 

 although almost any large tree on a lawn or 

 roadside may suit her, she carries grasses, 

 plant fibre, string, or bits of cloth. These 

 she weaves and felts into a perfect bag six or 

 seven inches deep and lines it with finer grasses, 

 hair and wool — a safe, cozy, swinging cradle 

 for her babies. 



But, as you may imagine, those babies have 

 a rather hard time when they try to climb out 

 of it into the world. Many a one tumbles to 

 the ground, unable to hold on to the tip of a 



