90 SINGING BIRDS. 



spell-bound by despair. If the season be not too far advanced, 

 the loss of their eggs is generally soon repaired by constructing 

 a second nest, in which, however, the eggs are fewer. 



The true Oriole (O. galbula), which migrates into Africa, 

 and passes the breeding season in the centre of Europe, also 

 makes a pendulous nest, and displays great courage in the de- 

 fence of its young, being so attached to its progeny that the 

 female has been taken and conveyed to a cage on her eggs, on 

 which, with resolute and fatal instinct, she remained faithfully 

 sitting until she expired. 



The Baltimore bird, though naturally shy and suspicious, 

 probably for greater security from more dangerous enemies, 

 generally chooses for the nest the largest and tallest spreading 

 trees near farm-houses, and along frequented lanes and roads ; 

 and trusting to the inaccessibleness of its ingenious mansion, 

 it works fearlessly and scarcely studies concealment. But 

 as soon as the young are hatched, here, towards the close of 

 June, the whole family begin to leave the immediate neighbor- 

 hood of their cares, flit through the woods, — a shy, roving, and 

 nearly silent train ; and when ready for the distant journey be- 

 fore them, about the end of August or beginning of September, 

 the whole at once disappear, and probably arrive, as with us, 

 amidst the forests of South America in a scattered flock, and 

 continue, like Starlings, to pass the winter in celibacy, wholly 

 engaged in gleaning a quiet subsistence until the return of 

 spring. Then, incited by instinct to prepare for a more pow- 

 erful passion, they again wing their way to the regions of the 

 north, where, but for this wonderful instinct of migration, the 

 whole race would perish in a single season. As the sexes 

 usually arrive in different flocks, it is evident that the conjugal 

 tie ceases at the period of migration, and the choice of mates 

 is renewed with the season ; during which the males, and 

 sometimes also the females, carry on their jealous disputes 

 with much obstinacy. 



That our Oriole is not familiar with us, independent of the 

 all-powerful natural impulse which he obeys, is sufficiently 

 obvious when he nests in the woods. Two of these solitary 



