104 ORCHARD ORIOLE. 



Oriole's nest is a marvel of intelligence and skill, and 

 one wonders that all the other birds do not learn 

 weaving and take it for a model. It is a deep pocket, 

 flexible and strong, hung far out at the end of a 

 branch, on twigs too slender to support the weight of 

 marauding crow 7 or squirrel, and so constructed that 

 the wildest winds cannot loosen it or spill out eggs 

 or nestlings. Even human ingenuity could scarcely 

 suggest an improvement. 



As a destroyer of injurious insects, this Oriole is of 

 great value. Nearly half his food is caterpillars and 

 the rest is largely beetles, ants, grasshoppers, rose- 

 bugs and spiders. What a difference in our foliage, 

 fruit and flowers when we have these for bird 

 neighbors! 



While the song of the Baltimore is especially mel- 

 low and flute-like, his talking note is a rather harsh 

 kr-r-r-r-r. This note is usually heard when the birds 

 are about, in or out of the song season. Both Balti- 

 more and Orchard Orioles nest in the Smithsonian 

 grounds. 



Orchard Oriole : Icterus spurius. 



Length 7*4 inches. 



Male, head, neck and upper back black; rest of the body 

 rich chestnut; wings and tail blackish. 



Female, upper parts olive-green; under parts dull yellow; 

 wings dark brown with white bars. 



First year males are like female; second year males have 

 a large black patch on the throat. 



Resident (common) from May i to September; winters 

 in Central America. 



The Orchard Oriole is more common than the Bal- 

 timore, but is less frequently noticed, as his colors 

 are inconspicuous and he keeps rather close in thickly- 



