AS^ R E D-W I N G ORIOLE. 



of white hellebore before they plant it. The birds which eat this 

 prepared corn are feized with a vertigo, and fall down j which fome- 

 times drives the reft away. This potion is particularly aimed againft 

 - the Purple Grakles, or Purple Jackdaw, which conforts in my- 

 riads with this fpecieSj as if in confpiracy againft the labors of the huf- 

 bandman. The fowler feldom ftioots among the flocks, but fome of 

 e-ach kind fall. They appear in greateft numbers in autumn, when 

 they receive additions from the retired parts of the country, in order 

 to prey on the ripened maize. ' 



Some of the Colonies have eftabliilied a. reward of three pence a 

 dozen for the extirpation of the Jackdaws : and in New England^ 

 the intent was almoft effe<!!ted, to the coft of the inhabitants ; who at 

 Uses. length difcovered that Providence had not formed even thefe feem- 



ingly deftru(5tiye birds in vain. Notwlthftanding they caufed fuch 

 havock among the grain, they made ample recompence, by clearing 

 the ground of the noxious worms * with which it abounds. As fooa 

 as the "birds were deftroyed, the reptiles had full leave to multiply : 

 the confequence was the total lofs of the grafs, in 1749; when the 

 New Englanders, late repentants, were obliged to get their hay from 

 Fenjylvania, and even from Great Britaht. 

 Nest. 'pj^g Red-winged Orioles TDuild their nefts in bufties, and among 



the reeds, in retired fwamps, in the form of a hang-neft ; leaving it 

 fufpended at fo judicious a height, and by fo wondrous an inftinft, 

 that the higheft floods never reach to dertroy it. The neft is ftrong, 

 made externally with broad grafs, a little plaftered ; thickly lined 

 with bent or withered grafs. The eggs are white, thinly and irre- 

 gularly ftreaked with black. 



Fernandez fays, that in Mexico they build in trees near towns ; and 

 both he and Catejhy agree, that they fing as well in a ftate of con- 

 finement as of nature ; and that they may be taught to fpeak. I 

 agree with M. de Buffon, that, in cafe the manner of their nidification 



• The Caterpillar of the Bruchm Fiji, or Pcafe Beetle, Jn particular. See Kalm, i. 

 J73. 176. 



is 



