208 



BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 



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foet up. I^ggx, four to six, wliitc, pinj^ularly Hcruwlcd with fine, distinct or 

 obscure biuck or fuscous lines, und with u few spots or blotcluH, "04 x -tja. 



Soinetiines Nature, as if to remind us of the richness of her stores, 

 sends from the tropics a gayly attired bird who seems quite out of 

 place among the more soberly clad inhabitants of northern climes. 

 The genus Iderua contains nearly forty species, all more or less 

 brightly dressed in orange, yellow, and black, but not one is more 

 beautiful than our Baltimore Oriole. 



There is reason to believe that he is not unaware of his own 

 charms; indeed, we may almost suspect him of intentionally display- 

 ing them. His splendor is not to be lost in the forest, and, whistling 

 loudly, he flashes through our fruit and shade trees. 



He generally leaves to the female the task of constructing their 

 wonderfully made ne t, but he seems quite as deeply interested in the 

 performance as if he were a skilled weaver himself ; indeed, he would 

 probably assist if he were permitted. 



Young Orioles have been well named by Mrs. Olive Thorne Miller 

 the cry-babies of the bird world. Their ceaseless call for food is 

 almost as much a midsummer voice as the song of cicadas. Long 

 after they have left the nest we may find thorn in the different trees 

 about our lawn calling out monotonously and persistently dec-dec- 

 dec-dce, until one of the i)arents arrives and momentarily stops their 

 mouths. 



Bullock's Ohioi.e (fiOS. fderun buUocii), a species ot'our Western States, 

 lias been taken at Hangor, Maine. 



600. Scolecopha^uscarolinus (.)/// /^). Uisty BLArKmnn. Ad. 

 S 1 bnediiig plumage. — Entire pluinairc uniform plossy bluish black; tnil- 

 featliers of nearly etiual lentrtli. Ad. i in /all and winter jnliimrKje. — Simi- 

 lar, but the upper parts widely tipped with rufous or rusty, the under parts 

 similarly tipped with ochraceous- or creain-butf ; a butfy line over the eye. 

 Ad. 1 in brctdiiig plumage. — Slate-color, f,'lossy above, duller l)el()w ; winfjs 

 and tail darker and more glossy. Ad. 9 in fall and winter. — Similar, but 

 soniewliat lifiliter, the upi>er parts widely tipped with rufous or rusty, the 

 under parts similarly tipped with ochraceous- or cream-buff. L., 9'55; W., 

 4-Gl ; T., 3-r)-2 ; B., -80. 



Ilangv. — Breeds from New Brunswick antl Afanitoba northward to Labra- 

 dor and Alaska; winters frotn Virjrinia southward. 



Washinjrton, common VV. V., Oct. 25 to Apl. 'jr). SiniJ Sinp, common T. 

 v., Meh. 26 to May 8 ; Sept. 28 to Nov. 27. Cambridge, very common T. V., 

 Mch. to May T) ; Sept. and Oct. 



Nent, of twigs and coarse grasses lined with finer gra.sses, in coniferous 

 trees or on the grountl. A'f/f/*, four to seven, grayish green to pale green, 

 thickly blot<^hed with light and dark brown and purple, 1*00 x -70 (Cham- 

 berlain). 



