52 BIRDS THROUGH AN OPERA-GLASS. 



XIV. 



BALTIMORE ORIOLE ; FIRE-BIRD ; GOLDEN ROBIN ; 

 HANG-NEST. 



WILSON notices the interesting fact that our 

 oriole was named by Linnaeus in honor of Lord 

 Baltimore, whose colors were black and orange. 



He is shorter than the robin, and compared 

 with that plump alderman is slenderly and deli- 

 cately built much more in the form of the 

 blackbirds. His back is black instead of grayish- 

 brown, and his breast orange instead of dull red- 

 dish. In habit, he contrasts still more strongly 

 with the robin. Who ever saw Sir Baltimore 

 watching for fish-worms in the grass, or taking 

 possession of a crotch in the piazza ? and, on 

 the other hand, who ever saw a robin hold his din- 

 ner under his claw and peck it to pieces as the 

 orioles and their cousins the blackbirds do ? The 

 oriole is comparatively shy, and has a nervous, 

 excitable temperament, while the robin is not only 

 social but phlegmatic. Then the call of the fire- 

 bird is shriller, and pitched on a higher key ; 

 while his love song is an elaborate poem in mel- 

 ody, compared with the blunt courtship of robin 

 redbreast just watch this graceful suitor some 

 morning as he bows and scrapes before his lady- 

 love to the rhythm of his exquisitely modulated 

 song. Now running high and loud with joyful 



