BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



It is wonderful how these fragile looking 

 structures withstand the winds and storms of 

 winter and still retain their shape. Not far 

 from the house are two elm trees just a few 

 rods apart. In one is an Oriole nest of last 

 year. In the other is a nest a pair of Orioles 

 have just completed. So strongly made are 

 those hanging structures, that, if there is any 

 difference in the appearance of the old and the 

 new, it would take the practised eye of the birds 

 to detect it. What could reflect more credit 

 upon the builders ? We have never known the 

 Orioles to occupy the same nest a second 

 season, though they may build again in the 

 same tree. 



Only two kinds of Orioles are known here; 

 one, the most brilliant, easily known by the 

 black head and wings and red-orange breast 

 of the male, is known as the Baltimore Oriole, 

 sometimes called Fire Bird or Golden Robin, 

 and is quite common; the other, not so bril- 

 liant a bird, but very beautiful when you have 

 a close view, with rich greenish yellow and 

 brown shades, is known as the Orchard Oriole, 

 and is very rare in our orchards so far north. 

 Early in May the Orioles announce their ar- 

 rival by their whistling song, usually coming 

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