BALTIMORE AXD ORCIIAJtD ORIOLES. 175 



with a plaintiveness which is very interesting. It has not the wildness and exquisite 

 rendering of the Mocking-bird, but appears to be the whistle of an abstracted man, 

 who, when asked what he was whistling, replied that he didn't know. 



The Baltimore Oriole inhabits the entire North America, and is .often seen 

 among the trees of the large cities : his flashing colors and plaintive song, as he 

 flits among the branches, appear in strange contrast to the dull roar and whirl of 

 city-life. 



His food should be the Mocking-bird food, prepared the same as for all soft-bill 

 birds. He is particularly fond of caterpillars, bugs, and beetles, which, wherever 

 found, should be saved, and brought home for him. The want of insects is the 

 principal cause of disease ; as the birds are always used to them in the wild state, 

 and, in fact, live on them almost entirely. The usual cage sickness prevails when 

 the bird is first put in confinement : they are apt to pine, and, if not given some 

 little attention, are almost certain to die. For this reason live insects should be 

 fed them daily until accustomed to their new state of life. 



It is commonly thought that the young cannot be taken from the nest and suc- 

 cessfully reared, but this is erroneous. It is better to take the entire brood under 

 charge at the same time : they need plenty of attention and care, and should be fed 

 as often as they make known their wants. Prepare a boiled potato, and mix with 

 about one-half the quantity of hard-boiled egg, to which should be added a small 

 quantity of the prepared food : this should be fed in small pellets, one or two being 

 sufficient at a time. Keep the birds in a warm place, and there will be no danger of 

 losing any of the brood. The birds taken from the nest will be found hardier and 

 more suitable cage-birds than the trapped birds. 



Suitable cages for Baltimore Orioles are the small-sized brass or wood-framed 

 Mocking-bird cages. 



ORCHARD ORIOLE. 



This Oriole is not very widely known as a cage-bird ; although, owing to his 

 chameleon-like nature of changing color, he has been the subject of fierce arguments 

 among the leading naturalists. The male Orchard Orioles and the female Baltimore 

 Orioles are often mistaken for one another ; as, at a certain age, the Orchard Oriole 

 greatly resembles the female Baltimore. They are, however, of two distinct families ; 

 the Orchard Oriole being smaller, and more slenderly shaped, #s well as differing in 

 the mode of building the nest. 



The Orchard Oriole arrives later in the season than the Baltimore, and does not 

 inhabit the country farther north than Maine. The female Orchard Oriole is six 

 inches and a half in length, and always remains the same color. She is a yel- 

 lowish olive, with a brownish tint on the back : the wings are a dusky brown. The 

 young male bird corresponds nearly to the above description. The second season 

 he appears with a brilliant patcli of black marking the throat, and slight reddish 

 stains mark the sides and belly. The third season he appears in his perfect dress, 

 and a very attractive fellow he makes. A velvety black appears over the whole 

 upper part of the back, head, wings, and tail ; while the breast and lower wing- 

 feathers are a bright chestnut color. It may thus be seen, from the varieties of 

 costume in which he appears, that it is a rather difficult matter to believe that he is 



