ORCHARD ORIOLE. 217 



which present an epitome of almost every thing that is rare, 

 useful, and beautiful in the vegetable kingdom of this western 

 continent, and where the murderous gun scarce ever intrudes, 

 the Orchard Oriole revels without restraint, through thickets 

 of aromatic flowers and blossoms; and, heedless of the busy 

 gardener that labours below, hangs his nest, in perfect security, 

 on the branches over his head. 



The female sits fourteen days; the young remain in the nest 

 ten days afterwards,* before they venture abroad, which is ge- 

 nerally about the middle of June. Nests of this species, with 

 eggs, are sometimes found so late as the twentieth of July, which 

 must belong to birds that have lost their first nest; or it is pro- 

 bable that many of them raise two broods in the same season, 

 though I am not positive of the fact. 



The Orchard Orioles arrive in Pennsylvania rather later than 

 the Baltimores, commonly about the first week in May; and 

 extend as far as the province of Maine. They are also more 

 numerous towards the mountains than the latter species. In 

 traversing the country near the Blue ridge, in the month of 

 August, I have seen at least five of this species for one of the 

 Baltimore. Early in September, they take their departure for 

 the south; their term of residence here being little more than 

 four months. Previous to their departure, the young birds be- 

 come gregarious, and frequent the rich extensive meadows of 

 the Schuylkill, below Philadelphia, in flocks of from thirty to 

 forty or upwards. They are easily raised from the nest, and 

 soon become agreeable domestics. One which I reared and kept 

 through the winter, whistled with great clearness and vivacity 

 at two months old. It had an odd manner of moving its head 

 and neck slowly and regularly, and in various directions, when 

 intent on observing any thing, without stirring its body. This 

 motion was as slow and regular as that of a snake. When at 

 night a candle was brought into the room, it became restless 



* There is evidently some mistake here, as the young could hardly be 

 fledged in ten days. 

 VOL. I. 3 G 



