324 THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 



The adult male is nearly black upon its head, neck, back, wings, and tail, a brownish tint 

 being perceptible in the wings. The lower part of the breast, the abdomen, tail-coverts, and 

 some of the wing-coverts, are light reddish-brown, and the greater wing-coverts are tipped 

 with white. The adult female is yellowish olive above, with a brown tinge on the back, and 

 a brown wash over the wings. The whole of the lower parts are yellow, the primary feathers 

 of the wings are slightly edged with yellowish white, and the same color is found on the 

 edges of the secondaries and greater coverts, and on the tips of the lesser coverts. The length 

 of the bird is between six and seven inches. The young male is like the female during his 

 first year, but in his second year sundry feathers of black make their appearance in various 

 parts of the body, and in the third year they spread over the upper surface and breast, as has 

 already been mentioned. 



The Orchard Orioles arrive in Pennsylvania rather later than the Baltimores usually 

 about the first week in May. Early in September they take their departure. In New England 

 they are not often seen. They are easily raised from the nest, and prove very agreeable pets. 



Since the days of Audubon and Wilson, several species have been discovered. The 

 Hooded, Scott's Waglers, and Bullocks, are among them. The Troopial is another and splen- 

 did species, larger than the others. Another is named for Audubon ; all found in the West 

 and Southwest. 



THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE (Icterus galbula) is an inhabitant of the whole of Northern 

 America, its range extending from Canada to Mexico even as far south as Brazil. ' 



It is a migratory bird, arriving about the beginning of May, and departing towards the 

 end of August or the beginning of September. The name of Baltimore Oriole has been given 

 to it because its colors of black and orange are those of the arms belonging to Lord Baltimore, 

 to whom Maryland formerly belonged. This species is remarkably familiar and fearless of 

 man, hanging its beautiful pensile nest upon the garden-trees, and even venturing into the 

 streets wherever a green tree flourishes, and chanting its wild mellow notes in close proximity 

 to the sounds and sights of a populous city. 



The nest of the Baltimore Oriole is somewhat similar to that of the preceding species, 

 although it is generally of a thicker and tougher substance, and more ingeniously woven. 

 The materials of which this beautiful habitation is made are flax, various kinds of vegetable 

 fibres, wool and hair, matted together, so as to resemble felt in consistency. A number of 

 long horsehairs are passed completely through the fibres, sewing it firmly together with large 

 and irregular, but strong and judiciously placed stitching. In one of these nests Wilson 

 found that several of the hairs used for this purpose measured two feet in length. The nest 

 is in the form of a long purse, and at the bottom is arranged a heap of soft cow's hair and 

 similar substances, in which the eggs find a warm resting-place. The female bird seems to be 

 the chief architect, receiving a constant supply of materials from her mate, and occasionally 

 rejecting the fibres or hairs which he may bring, and sending him off for another load better 

 to her taste. 



Since the advent of civilization, the Baltimore Oriole has availed himself largely of his 

 advantages, and instead of troubling himself with a painful search after individual hairs, 

 wherewith to sew his hammock together, keeps a lookout for any bits of stray thread that 

 may be thrown away by human sempstresses, and makes use of them in the place of the hairs. 

 So sharp-sigh ted is the bird, and so quick are his movements, that during the bleaching season 

 the owners of the thread are forced to keep a constant watch upon their property as it lies 

 upon the grass, or hangs upon the boughs, knowing that the Oriole is ever ready to pounce 

 upon such valuable material, and straightway to weave it into his^nest. Piecesof loose string, 

 skeins of silk, or even the bands with which young grafts are tied, are equally sought by this 

 ingenious bird, and often purloined to the discomfiture of the needlewoman or the gardener. 

 The average size of the nest is six or seven inches in depth, and three or four in diameter. 

 Wilson thinks that the bird improves in nest-building by practice, and tHat the best speci- 

 mens of architecture are the work of the oldest birds. 



The eggs are five in number, and their general color is whitish pink, dotted at the larger 



