ICTERID.E — THE ORIOLES. Jp-j- 



Tlio Baltimoro Oriole is one of the most common birds nearly through' nit 

 Now Knj,dand. Gay and brilliant in pluma^ire, interesting and lively in man- 

 ners and habits, and a. vocalist of rare power, with ])athos, beauty, and 

 variety in liis notes, this bird has been, and would still l)e, a great favorite, 

 but for its transgressions among the pea-vines of our gardens. He makes 

 his ajtpearance wi h exem]»lary punctuality, seeming regardless of the pre- 

 matureness or tan'iness of the season, liarely does tlie 10th of ^lay pass 

 witliout the sound of his welcome notes, and rarely, if i'ver, does he come 

 sooner. 



Their period of song is not a long one, but soon terminates, as family 

 cares increase and tlie tender broods require an undivided attention. 

 Earlv in Julv this Oriole ceases to favor the world with those remarkable 

 notes that sehlom fail to attract attention by their peculiarity, and to excite 

 admiration by their rich and full-toned melody. 



When the male Baltimores first arrive, they come unaccompanied by their 

 mates. At this time their notes are unusually loud, and their voices seem 

 shrill. Their song api)ears to partake somewhat of the nature of tender 

 lamentations and complaining. At this, period they are very active and 

 restless, moving rapidly through the bmnches of the trees, just oi)ening into 

 leaf and blossom, searching busily for the insects which tlien form their 

 principal tbod. When, a few days after their arrival, they are joined by the 

 females, the whole character of their song changes, which l)ecomes a lower- 

 toned, richer, and more jdeasing refrain. During their love-season tlieir 

 resonant and peculiarly mellow whistle resounds in every garden and orchard, 

 along tlie highways of our villages, and in the parks and jjublic S(|uares of 

 our cities. 



Nuttall, generally very felicitous in expressing by verbal equivalents the 

 notes of various species of our song-birds, describes the notes of its song as 

 running thus, Tshippc-tshaiiia-too-too-tshvppc-tsliippc'too-too, with several other 

 very similar modifications and variations. But these characters give a very 

 inadequate idea c»f their song. It must be heard to be ai)preciated, and no 

 description can do justice to its beauties. The notes are of an almost end- 

 less variety, and each individual has his own special variations. The 

 female, too, has her own peculiar and very })retty notes, which she inces- 

 santly warbles as she weaves her curiously elaborate nest. 



To agriculturists this Oriole renders immense service in the destruction 

 of vast numbers of highly injurious insects ; among the most noteworthy of 

 these are the common canker-worm and the tent caterpillars, both great 

 pests to orchards. These benefits lar more than compensate for its annoy- 

 ing attacks on the pods of esculent peas, the only sin that can rightfully be 

 brought against it, except, perhaps, the acts of theft committed against other 

 birds, in seizing upon and appropriating to it materials collected by smaller 

 birds for their nests. 



The Baltimore Orioles are devoted, faithful, and courageous parents, reso- 



