THE PERCHING BIRDS. 133 



unwonted animation and sing far beyond their usual 

 score of half a dozen notes. 



According to Ridgway's Manual, we have six 

 Orioles. Two of these are well-known Eastern birds, 

 the others Western and Southwestern. The habits of 

 the group are much alike wherever the birds are 

 found, the variations such as the immediate sur- 

 roundings have necessitated or suggested. 



In the Eastern and Middle States everybody is 

 familiar with the Baltimore Oriole. The bright 

 orange-and-black plumage, the penetrating whistle, 

 and pendent nests are of themselves sufficient to 

 make the birds very conspicuous, but when we con- 

 sider that they are fond of the proximity of man 

 (strange taste) and often build their homes over- 

 hanging busy village streets, it is no wonder that 

 everybody knows the bird as he does our street spar- 

 rows, and has given it a long list of ridiculous names, 

 as " Fire-robin," " Hang-nest," and " Golden-gab- 

 bler." The song naturally commands attention be- 

 cause of its shrill notes, that are so fife-like as to 

 produce an unpleasant sensation. Then, again, there 

 is a long, varied series of pleasing notes that are really 

 charming, but in constant danger of being spoiled by 

 the introduction of discordant shrieks. 



Much has been written of the oriole's nest, and 

 certainly it is the most conspicuous of the nests 

 found in our woods. It is a long, narrow bag, that 

 is securely fastened to a pendent branch of an elm 

 or willow usually, and made of such materials as can 

 be readily woven into a coarse fabric. 



If you offer the birds bright-colored yarns they 



