Tin: i mm Aim <>I;IULB. 



Hi.- t r- hard Oriole, though jart!\ a .I.-I--M.I.-MI on th- in.luntry of the fanner, ia DO 

 aneaking pilferer. Ion :m ^\-\\ .m.l truly I- ii.-ii.-.-ni fri.-n.l. To all those countless mult it ude* 

 of destructive bugs and caterpillars tliut infest tin- fruit tn-es in spring ami Humnier, preying 

 a the leaves, blossoms, and .-iiii.rx.. ..f the fruit, he ia a dead! 



wherever lit- ran liu.l tli.-m. and <i. -troying on an average some hnn.ln-.l- .f thorn erwy day 

 without offering the slightest injury to tin- fruit, however much it ma\ -tan.l in his wa . 

 have witnessed instances where the entrance to hia neat waa mP ii, : ,n half do ,1 i ,\ : , , luater 

 of apples, which h.- could . usily have demoliahed in half a minute; l.ut. a-, if holding the 

 |.I..|H-M> of lib patron sacred, or considering it a natural bulwark to hia own, he >li<l out and 

 in wit li the greatest gentleness and caution. 



I am not sullicirnth comersant with entomology to ]Nirticiilarize the different .sjH-.-i.-s on 

 which he feeds, but I have good reason for l>elieving that they are almost altogether Midi an 

 .oiniiiit the greatest depredations on tin- fruits <>f the orrhnrd ; and, as he riaita us at a time 

 when hia services arc <>f th.- greatest value, ami. like a faithful guardian, takes up hia station 



A ',. M HM MSB] IBBOH '" .\l--.-i. i..- Ollghl tO '" held in !-], I'u I . -.t.-.-in. :,n,| ).!,. 



teeted by every considerate husbandman. Nor ia the gaiety of bin aong on.- of hi.s leant 



rsMSBSBSldfttioni !'-iii_- .,!, . v ..-.!;::_!;. afltff^ s.ii_!n!\. :,hl M0HI bM, h- i- "li th.- 

 ITIOIIIK! in tli- ii.-.- t!\ in- and carolling in his hurried manner, in almost one and the name 

 install' His notes are -hrill and lively, l-ut uttered with sn.-h p.ij.i-lit\ and seeming con f union, 

 that the ear in unable to follow them distinctly. Between theae he ha* a single note, which is 

 agreeable and interesting. 



\Vh-n-\-r he i> |.i..te'te<l. he .shows hi.s confidence and gratitude by hw numben* and 

 familiarity. In the Botanic Ihirden.s of my worthy and scientific friends, the Messrs. Hart rams, 

 of Kingsess, which present an epitome of everything that is rare, useful, and beautiful in the 



\.-_'-iaM- kili_'.!..ni ..f tlii- MtaaBI ' "iinn.'ii'. ati-l MI-IT lh- iniii'1-l.ni-. L'IIII -.-ai.-.' r\er 



intrudes, the Orchanl Oriole revels without n-tniint through thicketH of aromatic flowers and 

 blossoms, and, heedless of the busy gardener tliat labors below, hangs his nest in perfect 

 security on the brunches over hia head." 



Audubon, also, has taken great interest in this bird, and has devoted a considerable por- 

 tion of his work to the elucidation of its liabita. 



" No sooner have they reached that portion of the country in which they intend to remain 

 during the time of raising their young, than the birds exhibit all the liveliness and vivacity 

 belonging to their nature. The male ia seen rising in the air from ten to twenty yards in a 

 violent manner, jerking his tail and body, flapping his wings, and singing with remarkable 

 im|H'tuosity, as if under the influence of haste, and anxious to return to the tree from which 

 he has departed. He accordingly descends with the same motions of the IxNly and toil, repeat- 

 ing his pleasing song as he alights. 



" These gambols and warblings are performed frequently during the day, the intervals 

 being employed in ascending or descending along the branches and twigs of different trees in 

 search of insects or lorv. In doing this they rise on their legs, aeldom without jetting the 

 tail, stretch the neck, seize the prey, and emit a single note, which is sweet and mellow, 

 althongh in power much inferior to that of the Baltimore. At other times it is seen bending 

 its body downwards in a curved posture, with the head gently inclined upwards, to peep 

 at the outer part of the leaves, so as not to suffer any part to escape its vicilance. It 

 soon alights on the ground when it has espied a crawling insect, and again flies towards 

 the blossoms, in which are many lurking, and devours hundreds of them each day, thus 

 contributing to secure to the farmer the hopes which he has of the productiveness of his 

 orchard." 



One of these birds that was kept in a cage by Wilson proved to be a very interesting 

 creature, chanting its wild clear notes at an early age, and accommodating itself to its captivity 

 with perfect ease. It had a curious love for artificial light, fluttering about its cage, and 

 becoming uneasy -at the sight of a lighted candle, and not being satisfied when its cage waa 

 placed close to the object of attraction. In that case, it would sit close to the side of the cage, 

 dress its plumage, and occasionally break into snatches of song. 



