WILD LIFE OF ORCHARD AND FIELD 



specimen of the new species, when, in 1766, he rec- 

 ognized the coincidence in the name. 



Then, as now, the orioles were among the most 

 beautiful and conspicuous of woodland birds. From 

 their winter retreat under the tropics they return 

 northward as the warm weather advances, arriv- 

 ing in Maryland during the latter part of April, 

 and reaching central New England by the middle 

 of May. The males come in advance, and instant- 

 ly announce their presence by a loud and joyous 

 song, continually emulating one another during 

 the week or more that elapses before the arrival of 

 the females. But this emulation does not end 

 with vying in song; they have many pitched bat- 

 tles, chasing each other from tree to tree and through 

 the branches with angry notes. The coming of 

 the females offers some diversion to these pugna- 

 cious cavaliers, or at least furnishes a new casus 

 belli ; for, while they devote themselves with great 

 ardor to wooing and winning their coy mistresses, 

 their jealousy is easily aroused, and their fighting 

 is often resumed. Even the lady-loves sometimes 

 forget themselves so far as to attack their fancied 

 rivals savagely, or to drive out of sight the chosen 

 mate of some male bird whom they want for them- 

 selves. This is not all fancy, but lamentable fact. 



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