86 BIRDS OF THE GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 



THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 



About the middle of May, as soon as the cherry-trees 

 are in blossom, and when the oak and the maple are be- 

 ginning to unfold their plaited leaves, the loud and ani- 

 mated notes of the Golden Eobin are first heard in New 

 England. I have never known a bird of this species to 

 arrive before that period. They seem to be governed by 

 the supply of their insect-food, which probably becomes 

 abundant at the same time with the flowering of the 

 orchards. On their arrival they may be observed dili- 

 gently hunting among the branches and foliage of the 

 trees, making a particular examination of the blossoms for 

 the flies and beetles that are lodged in them. 



While the Oriole is thus employed in search of food, 

 which he obtains almost exclusively from trees, he fre- 

 quently utters his brief but loud and melodious notes. 

 Of this species, the males arrive a few days before the 

 females, and at first utter only a few call-notes, which 

 on the arrival of their mates are lengthened into a song. 

 This seldom consists of more than five or six notes, though 

 the strain is sometimes immediately repeated. Almost 

 all remarkable singing-birds give themselves up entirely 

 to song on their musical occasions, and pay no regard to 

 other demands upon their time until they have concluded. 

 But the Golden Eobin never relaxes from his industry, 

 nor remains stationed upon the branch of a tree for the 

 sole purpose of singing. He sings, like an industrious 

 maid-of-all-work, only while employed in his sylvan oc- 

 cupations. 



The Baltimore Oriole is said to inhabit North America 

 from Canada to Mexico ; but the species are most abundant 

 in the northeastern parts of the continent, and a greater 

 number of them breed in the New England States than 

 either south or west of this section. They are also more 



