ORCHARD ORIOLE. 95 



tint, with a few points of brown, and spots of dark purple, 

 chiefly disposed at the greater end. The female sits about 

 14 days, and the young continue in the nest 10 days before 

 they become qualified to flit along with their parents ; but 

 they are generally seen abroad about the middle of June. 

 Previously to their departure, the young, leaving the care of 

 their parents, become gregarious, and assemble sometimes in 

 flocks of separate sexes, from 30 to 40 or upwards, — in the 

 South frequenting the savannahs, feeding much on crickets, 

 grasshoppers, and spiders ; and at this season their flesh is much 

 esteemed by the inhabitants. Wilson found them easy to raise 

 from the nest, but does not say on what they were fed, though 

 they probably require the same treatment as the Baltimore 

 Oriole. According to Audubon, they sing with great liveliness 

 in cages, being fed on rice and dry fruits when fresh cannot be 

 procured. Their ordinary diet, it appears, is caterpillars and 

 insects, of which they destroy great quantities. In the course 

 of the season they likewise feed on various kinds of juicy fruits 

 and berries ; but their depredations on the fruits of the orchard 

 are very unimportant. 



This is a summer visitor throughout the Eastern States, though 

 not common north of the Connecticut valley. It occurs regularly 

 but sparingly in Massachusetts and southern Ontario, and has been 

 taken in Maine and New Brunswick. It breeds southward to the 

 Gulf States, and in winter ranges into Central America. 



Mr. Chapman describes the voice of this Oriole as " unusually 

 rich and flexible," and adds, " he uses it with rare skill and ex- 

 pression." 



