60 BALTIMORE ORIOLE 



in cavities are white, but singularly scrawled and 

 spotted. The males usually reach the nesting 

 ground two or three days before the females. 

 The same nest is sometimes used for several sea- 

 sons, Orioles like many other aristocrats being 

 somewhat conservative as to building-sites and be- 

 coming particularly attached to localities. Major 

 Bendire thinks few birds are more devoted to 

 each other than these, and believes that they 

 remain mated through life. The young are very 

 active, and for a day or two before they leave the 

 nest, Audubon says, creep in and out of it like 

 young Woodpeckers. Since the Oriole likes to 

 hang his cradle to our elm-trees, he accepts our 

 friendly advances, and as he is bound by no preju- 

 dices is quite ready to take the bright-colored 

 worsteds put out for his nest, weaving them in 

 with as much complacency as the sober grays of 

 his own providing. 



The Oriole is one of the most companionable of 

 birds, for his bright coat is seen constantly flash- 

 ing back and forth around our houses ; and when 

 he is at work his cheery, exuberant song comes 

 back to us with such a joyful ring it .must raise 

 the most lugubrious spirits. Until too much 

 engrossed with family duties, the beautiful birds 

 sing a great deal, and the variations in the song 

 make it always grateful. There is a bright viva- 

 cious song, an equally hearty scold, a high shrill 

 whistle, and a richly modulated love song, one of 



