BIRDS OF INDIANA. 899 



Nest, of green grass, lined with plant down; in tree, in orchard, 

 lawn or grove. Eggs, 4-6; pale bluish-white, blotched, spotted and 

 veined with brown, purple, lavender and pearl gray; .81 by .57. 



The Orchard Oriole is a summer resident. In most counties in 

 the State it is common, being more numerous where there are 

 extensive orchards and attractive lawns. It is generally shown that 

 these birds are steadily increasing in numbers. In the extreme north- 

 ern part of the State they are extending their range, as well as increas- 

 ing numerically. Prior to 1883, they are reported to have been un- 

 known in portions of Dekalb County, and it was very rare in portions 

 of Lake County. The orchard is its home, and not the deep woods. 

 As conditions become more inviting, they will increase. While a few 

 years ago the Baltimore Oriole was much more abundant than this, 

 an estimate I made the present spring (1897) shows that these birds 

 outnumbered the last mentioned species ten or fifteen to one. 



The Orchard Oriole comes in spring, with the blooming of the 

 Buckeye, and it frequents thickets, at first, where that bush or tree 

 is found. 



The earliest records are from Bicknell and Brookville. April 18, 

 1896, it appeared at each place. The following are the dates it first 

 arrived in the places named in the spring of 1897, an early spring, 

 and where second date is given, it is the latest date of first arrival: 

 Brookville, April 24, 1897, May 14, 1888; Bicknell, April 22, 1897, 

 April 27, 1894; Richmond, April 26, 1897; Lafayette, April 26, 1897; 

 Sandusky, 0., May 9, 1897; Petersburg, Mich., May 6, 1897, May 8, 

 1889. The dates next given are earliest and latest dates of first spring 

 arrival: Dekalb County, April 19, 1896, May 20, 1888; Cook County, 

 111., May 9, 1896, May 15, 1884. The females arrive after the males 

 from several days to near two weeks. 



In southern Indiana most years the Baltimore Oriole arrives first. 

 At Brookville, but twice in fifteen years 5 observations do I find this 

 species noted as occurring in advance of it, while in 1893 it was just 

 two weeks later in arriving. 



I have observed it mating as early as April 27, 1881, and May 4, 

 1886. In southern Indiana sometimes the full complement of eggs is 

 laid about the middle of May. Prof. W. P. Shannon found the par- 

 ents feeding their young May 31, 1896. Usually, however, they are 

 about two weeks later. In the northern part of the State they breed 

 in June. A set of fresh eggs was found at Waterloo, June 3, 1885 

 (Snyder); and an incomplete set at Lafayette, June 10, 1897 (Test). 



The nest is usually placed in an orchard tree, most often an apple 

 tree. It is made of green grass blades, and is placed in the crotch or 



