HABITS OF THE OECHAED OEIOLE. 439 



evidently intended to prevent the eggs or young from being shaken out of their home by 

 the swaying of the boughs in the wind. The same amount of material appears to be used 

 in either case, so that the elongated nest is not so thick as the short one. My own 

 specimen is an example of the elongated structure. ]\Ioreover, in the warmer parts of 

 America, the nest is always much slighter than in the colder regions, permitting a free 

 circulation of air through its walls. 



The habits of this bird are very curious and interesting, and are well described by 

 Wilson in his well-known work on the Birds of America : — 



" The Orchard Oriole, though partly a dependent on the industry of the farmer, is no 

 sneaking pilferer, but an open and truly beneficent friend. To all those countless multi- 

 tudes of destructive bugs and caterjjillars that infest the fridt-trees in spring and summer, 

 preying on the leaves, blossoms, and embryo of the fruit, he is a deadly enemy ; devastating 

 them wherever he can find them, and destroying on an average some hundreds of them 

 every day without offering the slightest injury to the fruit, however much it may stand in 

 his way. I have witnessed instances where the entrance to his nest was more than half 

 closed by a cluster of ajDples, which he could easily have demolished in half a minute ; 

 but, as if holding the projierty of his patron sacred, or considering it a natural bulwark to 

 his own, he slid out and in with the greatest gentleness and caution. 



I am not sufficiently conversant with entomology to particularize the different species 

 on wliich he feeds, bu.t I have good reason for belie\dng that they are almost altogether 

 such as commit the greatest depredations on the fruits of the orchard ; and, as he visits us 

 at a time when his services are of the greatest value, and, like a faithful guardian, takes 

 up his station where the enemy is most to be expected, he ought to be held in respectful 

 esteem, and protected by every considerate husbandman. Nor is the gaiety of his song 

 one of his least recommendations. Being an exceedingly active, sprightly, and restless 

 bird, he is on the gi'ound — in the trees — flying and carolling in his hiUTied manner, in 

 almost one and the same instant. His notes are shrill and lively, but uttered with such 

 rapidity and seeming confusion, that the ear is unalde to follow them distinctly. Between 

 these he has a single note, which is agreeable and interesting. 



Wherever he is protected, he shows his confidence and gratitude by his numbers and 

 familiarity. In the Botanic Gardens of my worthy and scientific friends, the INIessrs. 

 Bartrams, of Kingsess, which present an epitome of evei-ything that is rare, useful and 

 beautifid in the vegetable kingdom of this western continent, and where the murderous 

 gun scarce ever intrudes, the Orchard Oriole revels without restraint througli thickets of 

 aromatic flowers and blossoms, and, heedless of the busy gardener that labours below, 

 hangs his nest in perfect security on the branches over his head." 



Audubon, also, has taken great interest in this bird, and has devoted a considerable 

 portion of his work to the elucidation of its habits. 



" No sooner have they reached that portion of the country in which they intend to 

 remain dming the time of raising their young, than the birds exhibit all the liveliness 

 and vivacity l^elouging to their nature. The male is seen rising in the air from ten to 

 twenty yards in a violent manner, jerking his tail and body, flapping his wings, and 

 singing with remarkable impetuosity, as if under the influence of haste, and anxious to 

 return to the tree from which he has departed. He accordingly descends with the same 

 motions of the body and tail, repeating his pleasing song as he ahghts. 



These gambols and warbHngs are performed frequently during the day, the intervals 

 being employed in ascending or descending along the branches and twigs of different trees 

 in search of insects or larvte. In doing this they rise on their legs, seldom without jetting 

 the tail, stretch the neck, seize the prey, and emit a single note, wdiich is sweet and 

 mellow, although in power much inferior to that of the Baltimore. At other times it is 

 seen bending its body downwards in a curved posture, with the head gently inclined 

 upwards, to peep at the outer part of the leaves, so as not to suffer any part to escape its 

 vigilance. It soon alights on the ground when it has espied a crawling insect, and again 

 flies towards the blossoms, in which are many lurking, and devours hundreds of them 

 each day, thus contrib\iting to secure to the farmer the hopes which he has of the 

 productiveness of his orchard." 



