ORIOLES. 261 



I can at present add nothing of interest to the history of 

 the " Red-wings," but any omissions may easily be filled by 

 the study of their habits, which is attended with little or no 

 difficulty. 



NOTE. One specimen of a Western species, the Yellow- 

 headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus), "was 

 shot in an orchard, at Watertown, about the 15th of October, 

 1869." (Maynard.) * About 10 inches long. Black ; head, 

 etc., largely yellow ; wing-patch, white. Female and young, 

 smaller, much duller. 



V. ICTERUS. 



A. GALBULA. Baltimore Oriole. Golden " Robin." 

 "Fire-bird" " Hang -nest" In New England, a generally 

 common summer resident, though rare to the northward, f 



a. About 7 1 inches long. $, with the head, interscapu- 

 lars, wings, and a part of the tail, black. Otherwise orange 

 of varying intensity, but with white on the wings. w ^h 

 duller colors, the black being skirted or glossed with olive, and 

 " sometimes entirely wanting." 



b. The nest is one of the most interesting specimens of 

 bird-architecture to be found in New England. It is pensile, 

 being from five to eight inches deep, and is generally fastened 

 (near the end) to the bough of an elm or orchard tree, where, 

 often beyond the direct reach of all enemies, it swings with the 

 slightest breeze, though secure from destruction by the most 



* There are several subsequent ree- esting extralimital occurrence is that 



ords : by Mr. Allen (Bull. Essex Inst., reported by Dr. Merriam (Bull N. O. 



X, 1878, p. 18) of two specimens shot at C , VI, 1881, p 243) of a bird shot at 



Eastham, Massachusetts, September 1 0, Godbout River, Province of Quebec, 



1877; by Mr. W. E. Treat (Auk, IV, early in September, 1878, by Mr. N. A. 



1887, p. 256) of a supposed female Comeau. W. B. 



taken near Hartford, Connecticut, late t A summer resident, very common 



in July, 1884 ; by Mr. Ridgway (Ibid.) throughout most of Massachusetts and 



of a young female shot on Metnic (Ma- southward, but in northern New Eng- 



tinic ?) Island, Maine, August 9, 1883, land less numerous, more local, and 



by Mr. Fred Rackliff ; and by Mr. E. K. seldom or never seen in the wilder and 



Colbron (Orn. and OoL, XIII, 1888, p. more heavily timbered sections. W. 



189) of a female killed near Stamford, B. 

 Connecticut, in July, 1888. An inter- 



