174 CANARIES AND CAGE BIRDS. 



BALTIMORE AND ORCHARD ORIOLES. 



THESE birds, supposed by early writers to be of the same species, are of two 

 distinct families. 



The Baltimore Oriole, or Golden Robin as he is familiarly called, is a migra- 

 tory bird, and is found in the Northern States early in May. Pairs build their nests 

 usually in the tops of the apple-trees or in weeping willows, and prefer to build 

 adjoining some farmhouse. It is said that he is so named because his colors are 

 those of Lord Baltimore, the founder of Maryland. He is a well-known bird, and 

 always a welcome visitor ; for he is so handsome in his gaudy, striking colors, and 

 his mellow song is pleasant music. 



He is about seven inches in length ; the bill is almost straight, tapering to a 

 point, black, and sometimes lead color. The head, throat, and upper part of the 

 back and wings, are satin black in color ; the lower part of the back, and the rump 

 and whole under parts, are brilliant orange, which deepens into vermilion on the 

 breast ; the black on the shoulders is also divided by a band of orange ; the outer 

 edges of the wing-coverts are white ; the tail-feathers under the coverts are orange. 

 When the tail is expanded, it appears like a pyramid of black supported on an arch 

 of orange. The tail is slightly forked. The legs and feet are light blue. 



The female is distinguished from the male by the color : the brilliant black in 

 the male is a dull black color in the female, each black feather being shaded with 

 greenish yellow ; the bright orange is replaced by a dull yellow. 



The male bird changes his color as he grows older, and appears in his most 

 beautiful colors in his third year. His colors deepen after his first year. 



The Oriole resembles the human family in regard to individual differences. A 

 great contrast is seen in the manner of building the nests, and the neatness dis- 

 played in the work of finishing them. It may be that age educates them, and makes 

 them expert in the art of building, just as it changes their colors and makes them 

 more beautiful. A wonderful ingenuity is shown in the construction of some of 

 these nests. The materials used are flax, hemp, tow, wool, or any thing of like 

 character ; and all is woven and sewed through with long horse-hair. In looking at 

 the neatness of the work, one almost sighs to think how handy it would be to have . 

 a few well trained in the art of darning stockings and repairing boys' trousers. 

 They are very particular in the selection of materials for the construction of their 

 nests, and the careless country-maid oftentimes rues the loss of a skein of fine silk 

 which chances to be left where Mr. Architect can easily find it. He thus puts the 

 products of man to good use. 



The song of the Baltimore Oriole is a clear, mellow whistle, repeated slowly, and 



