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ows. At this season it subsists on various kinds of insects ; as the 

 season advances, the young and tender ears of corn, which it 

 has protected from the ravages of the grub-worm, contributes 

 wholly to its support. Early in May it commences building its 

 nest, which is usually placed on an alder-bush, in some swamp or 

 marsh, and sometimes it is found in a tussock of grass, on a wet 

 meadow. The eggs, from three to five, are white, tinged with blue 

 and faintly marked with purple. It alights on the ground, trees, 

 and fences, and sometimes is seen climbing up the stalks of rank 

 weeds, searching for insects. It is a very plentiful species — associ- 

 ates in large numbers — and when alighting, crowd so close togeth- 

 er, that with the gun great havoc is made. Its flight is usually 

 even. When on the wing, its sombre plumage is pleasingly re- 

 lieved by the brilliant scarlet markings on the wings of the males, 

 which at all times render them conspicuous. 



GENUS ICTERUS — BRISS. 



ORIOLE. 



[Bill rather shorter than the head, a little decurved, conical — tapering to a sharp 

 point; head moderate; neck rather short; body rather slender; wings of 

 moderate length ; tail slightly emarginate ; tarsi rather longer than the middle 

 toes ; toes moderate — hind toe strongest.] 



ICTERUS BALTIMORE— LINN. 

 BALTIMORE HANG-NEST, OR ORIOLE. 



Baltimore Oriole, Oriolus Baltimore, Wils. Amer. Orn. 



Icterus Baltimore, Bonap. Syn. 



Baltimore Oriole, or Golden Robin, Icterus Baltimore, Nutt. Man. 



Baltimore Oriole, Icterus Baltimore, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Adult male with the head neck all round, 

 fore part of the back, wings, and tail feathers black ; outer web of 

 secondary coverts broadly margined with white — wing quills mar- 

 gined externally with the same ; tail feathers black, toward their 

 ends yellow, which color occupies a large portion of the outer feath- 



