GENUS 15. ORIOLUS.* 



SPECIES 1. ORIOLUS BALTIMORUSA 



BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 



[Plate. 1. -Fig. 3. Male.] 



LINN. Syst. I, p. 165, 10. Icterus minor, BRISS. n, p. 109, pL 12, 

 fig. \.-Le Baltimore, BUFF. in,;?. 231. PL Enl. 506, fg. 1. 

 Baltimore Bird, CATESB. Car. 1, 48. Arct. Zool. n, p, 142. 

 LATH. Syn. n, p. 432, 19. BARTUAM, p, 290. PEALK'S Mu- 

 seum, No. 1506. 



THIS is a bird of passage, arriving in Pennsylvania, from the 

 south, about the beginning of May, and departing towards the 

 latter end of August, or beginning of September. From the 

 singularity of its colours, the construction of its nest, and its 

 preferring the apple-trees, weeping-willows, walnut and tulip- 

 trees, adjoining the farm-house, to build on, it is generally 

 known, and, as usual, honoured with a variety of names, such 

 as Hang-nest, Hanging-bird, Golden Robin, Fire-bird (from 

 the bright orange seen through the green leaves, resembling a 

 flash of fire), &c. but more generally the Baltimore-bird, so 

 named, as Catesby informs us, from its colours, which are black 

 and orange, being those of the arms or livery of lord Baltimore, 

 formerly proprietary of Maryland. 



The Baltimore Oriole is seven inches in length; bill almost 

 straight, strong, tapering to a sharp point, black, and sometimes 



* This genus has been variously divided by modern ornithologists. Tem- 

 minck has separated it into four sections, viz. Cassicus, Quiscala, Icterus, and 

 Emberizoides. The two species described by Wilson, belong to the third section, 

 Icterus. 



| Coracias Galbula, LIXK. Syst. ed. 10, torn. 1, 108. Oriolus Baltimore, LATH, 

 Ind. Om. 180. 



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