318 PERCHERS AND SINGERS 



The mouth of the Oriole's bag-like nest is thin but strong, 

 and terminates in an edge as thin and firm as haircloth. A 

 nest now before me is five inches long, four inches in outside 

 diameter at a point half way between bottom and top, and 

 its opening is two inches in diameter. For a space of two 

 inches, the horse-hairs of the upper margin are wrapped around 

 an elm twig the size of a slate-pencil. At no point are the 

 walls more than a quarter of an inch in thickness, and the 

 inside is as symmetrical and shapely as if the nest had been 

 woven around a form. 



The usefulness of the Baltimore Oriole is fully equal to 

 its beauty. As a destroyer of caterpillars it has few equals 

 among birds. In May, insects constitute 92 per cent of its 

 food, and in April and July 70 per cent. For the entire year, 

 animal food, chiefly caterpillars and beetles, constitute 83.4 

 per cent of its food, and vegetable matter the remainder of 

 16.6 per cent. 



The Purple Grackle, or Crow Blackbird, 1 has 

 prompted scores of persons to ask, "What is the name of that 

 very shiny, jet-black bird with a long tail?' : No wonder it 

 attracts attention, especially in contrast with the lustreless 

 rusty blackbird. Its color is deep purple-black, and it is as 

 shiny as if it had been varnished all over. It loves to follow 

 the plough, and pick up the big, fat grubs that are exposed 

 to view, before they have had time to burrow out of sight. 

 Often in their eagerness not to miss a chance, these birds 

 will approach within ten feet of the plough-handles. It is 

 then that one notices that their eyes are light yellow, and 



1 Quis'ca-lus quis'cu-la. Length, about 12 inches. 



