100 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



lamentations and complaining. At this period they are very active and restless, moving rapidly 

 through the branches of the trees, just opening into leaf and blossom, searching busily for the insects, 

 which then form their principal food. When, a few days after their arrival, they are joined by the females, 

 the whole character of their song changes, which becomes a lower-toned, richer, and more pleasing 

 refrain. During their love season their resonant and peculiarly mellow whistle resounds in every 

 garden and orchard, along the highways of our villages, and in the parks and public squares of our 

 cities. Nuttall, generally very felicitous in expressing by verbal equivalents the notes of various 

 species of our song birds, describes the notes of its song as running thus : Tshippe-tschayia-too-too- 

 tshippe tshippe-too-too, with several other very similar modifications and variations. But these 



characters give a very inadequate idea of their song. It must be heard to be appreciated, and no 

 description can do justice to its beauties. The notes are of an almost endless variety, and each 

 individual has its own special variations. The female, too, has her own peculiar and very pretty 

 notes, which she incessantly warbles as she weaves her curiously elaborate nest. To agriculturists this 

 Oriole renders immense service in the destruction of vast numbers of highly injurious insects ; among 

 the most noteworthy of these are the common canker-worm and the tent caterpillars, both great pests to 

 orchards. These benefits far more than compensate for its annoying attacks on the pods of esculent 

 peas, the only sin that can rightfully be brought against it, except, perhaps, the acts of theft committed 

 against other birds, in seizing upon and appropriating to it materials collected by -smaller birds for 

 their nests. The Baltimore Orioles are devoted, faithful, and courageous parents, resolutely defending 

 their young when in danger, and exposing themselves fearlessly to danger and to death rather than 

 forsake them. If their young are taken and caged the parents follow them, and, if permitted, will 

 continue to feed them." 



In the third family of the Hang-nests are the Boat-tails ( 



