182 BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 



our ears, are not the notes of tropical 

 American and West Indian birds, which 

 he has acquired during his winter sojourn 

 in those sections of the world. Be that 

 as it may, we have but few among our 

 cage-birds who possess the same manifold 

 attractions to our affections as the Balti- 

 more Oriole. 



The colours of this lovely creature are 

 of a brilliant orange and glistening black, 

 with a few strips of white upon the wing. 

 From these he derives his name, since 

 they are the colours of the family of lord 

 Baltimore, the first proprietary of Mary- 

 land. 



In confinement, for which he is readily 

 obtained by means of a trap-cage, he be- 

 comes extremely familiar and even play- 

 ful, coming at call, going in and out of 

 the house like one of the family, and 

 perching upon the neck or head of his fail- 

 owner, with an affectionate sociability. 

 His food in the cage should consist prin- 

 cipally of soaked wheaten bread, scalded 



