ORCHARD ORIOLE. 140 



Y<nm;i f cmali . Similar to the adult but much paler, (-specially on the hack. The wings are lighter ami have more 

 whi'e on them. 



\ :*tlin</s. Unite like the adult female Imt very pale-yellow throughout, hut area little darker above. Wings and tail, 

 as in the abo\e for they are not moulted. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There is but little variation in plumage among birds of the same age and sex from the same locality, so that they may 

 readily lie distinguished by the color- as described. Distributed in summer throughout the Eastern Section of the United 

 States, south of Massachusetts Winters south of the United States. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of twenty specimens. Length, 6'G2; stretch, 9 - 50; win,*, 3'00; tail, 3'10; bill'65; tarsus, "70. 

 i spi-eimen, 7 - 5J">: greatest extent of wing, KVOO; longest wing, 3*25; tail, 3'25; bill, '90; tarsus '75. Shortest speci- 

 men, li-ixi; smallest extent of wing, !)"25; shortest wing, 2'75; tail, 3'00; bill, '60; tarsus, '65. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in trees, not very pendulous in form, composed of fine, tough grass firmly woven together. Dimensions; 

 external diameter, 4 '00. internal, 'J'tKl. External depth, 2'50, internal, 1'50. 



EI/I/S, four to six in number, oval in form, pale-blue in color, spotted, dotted, and sometimes lined, with umber and 

 lilac. Dimensions from '80x -60 to '85 x '65. 



HABITS. 



The city of Wilmington, North Carolina, is pleasantly situated on a high bluff which 

 overlooks Cape Fear River. Like many of the Southern cities, the streets are well shaded 

 with live oaks and other trees which as a natural result attract many birds. On visiting 

 this place, .May '1~>, 1872, I found that the foliage was swarming with various species of 

 tin- feathered tribe, but none were more prominent than the Orchard Orioles. This was 

 partly due to their abundance but they rendered themselves noticeable by the loud, clear 

 whistle which sounded out in all directions. This song, although similar to that of the 

 Baltimore Oriole, is in many respects not as varied but is, notwithstanding, very fine. 

 The Orchard Orioles were about to breed in Wilmington, and I saw the females carrying 

 material for their nests. This is seemingly quite late to begin laying so far south; indeed 

 I found them with eggs at Williainsport, Pennsylvania, about the same date, and have 

 a nest full of eggs in Massachusetts as early as June. 



This Orioh- differs somewhat in habits from the Baltimore inasmuch as it nearly al- 

 ways places its nest on an apple or other low tree, in the fork of a limb and not suspended 

 from it. They have the very restless movements which characterize this genus. One may 



en clinging to the lowest branches of a tree, then with the rapidity of thought will 

 bound upwards, and swing from the topmost bough where he remains only fora moment, 

 however, as suddenly catching sight of a passing female, he darts oil' in pursuit followed by 

 one or two others, for like the Baltimore, the males are rather promiscuous in their atten- 

 tions. On account of their preferring low trees as homes, they frequent the neighborhood 

 of houses in Pennsylvania, nesting in the fruit trees, and are seldom seen on the river in 

 company with the Baltimore Oriole. Nor did I ever see the two species associating to- 

 gether anywhere. 



The young make their appearance in the trees about the middle >f July but they 

 migrate very soon, as 1 did not find them at all during the last week of August. 



1!) 



