28 THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 
on rump; on head, throat, and back indistinctly spotted or streaked and clouded 
with black; wings fuscous; two dingy white wing-bars formed by middle coverts 
and ends of greater coverts. Young: Like female, the males gradually acquir- 
ing the adult orange. Length 7.50-8.00 (190.5-203.2); av. of five Columbus 
males: wing 3.70 (94.) ; tail 2.94 (74.7) ; bill .71 (18.). 
Recognition Marks.—Chewink size; orange and black coloration. The 
females, though obscure, is enough like male to be readily distinguished. 
Nest, purse-shaped and pensile, being oftenest swung from the very tips 
of drooping branches; a closely-woven fabric of grass, plant fibers, string, etc. 
The lining proper is of the softest materials—cotton, etc. Eggs, 3-6, rather 
elongated, white (greenish or dull), elaborately scrawled and streaked with dark 
browns or purple. Subdued shell-marking in spots or blotches is also usually 
PLCSEtItameAWwaEsizen OS ess OS m(242laexelON) 
General Range.—FE astern United States, north to Ontario and Manitoba, 
west nearly to Rocky Mountains; south in winter through Mexico to Colombia. 
Range in Ohio.—Common summer resident. 
THE warm breath of spring has soothed the violet’s last fears, and the 
orchard trees are crowded with blossoms. ‘Then comes one day warmer than 
all the rest, when the spice-laden air pulsates with heat, and the heart with ex- 
pectancy. Suddenly from off some blushing snow-bank of apple-blossoms 
comes a jubilant whistle. 
“Hush! ’tis he! 
My Oriole, my glance of summer fire, 
Is come at last.” 
A gorgeous male—one of the largest and the oldest, and therefore with colors 
the most intense you will see that season—is helping himself eagerly to the 
swarming tidbits which infest the flowers, but he stops every moment or so to 
flute his excited greetings to the joyous villagers in the dear home town. The 
news spreads rapidly, ‘““The Orioles have come.” ‘That beautiful fleet which 
silently stole away from our shores last autumn, and went we knew not 
whither, laden with its precious freight of song and memory, that winged, 
fiery fleet, has come to port again, and brought our own with usury of flame, 
and song, and unpent joy. Now spring is spring again! 
The Baltimore Oriole is rather partial to the haunts of men, being most 
frequently found along shady village streets, or in front-yard elms and 
orchards of country seats, but in many portions of the state they are so abun- 
dant as to be forced to hold to the edges of forests and the varied umbrage of 
river bottoras. The males arrive in spring a week or ten days earlier than the 
females, and during this period are restless and active. Their song too at this 
time, as Dr. Brewer notes, is loud and shrill as well as fragmentary. Upon the 
arrival of the females, the tender passion mellows the voices and improves the 
manners of the expectant suitors. During the mating season the rich full notes 
