ORIOLE FAMILY GOVERNMENT 71 



in, making all smooth and strong. This was 

 the nest from which a chebec pilfered mate- 

 rial, as related elsewhere. 



The nest of the apple-tree bird was not 

 a typical oriole nest, being in an upright 

 crotch and hung like a vireo's nest. 



I was unable to stay to watch the family 

 life of these interesting birds, which I re- 

 gretted, for some of the most attractive of 

 bird-notes are those passing between parents 

 and young. I had in another place a glimpse 

 into oriole family government which sug- 

 gested that there might be much to learn of 

 their ways. I was standing under a tree for 

 a moment when I heard an oriole baby-cry 

 over my head. Instantly there was a great 

 commotion in the tree and a Baltimore oriole 

 flew out and alighted in a tree a little way 

 off. He was greatly disturbed and stood 

 there watching me, flirting his wings and 

 jerking his body in excitement while scold- 

 ing his loudest. In a moment his mate joined 

 him with a worm in her mouth, and added 

 her distress to his. After a few minutes' 

 calling without response, the father sud- 

 denly gave a peculiar whistle, loud and clear, 



