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THE ORCHARD ORIOLE. 



Icterus spurius, Bonap. 



PLATE XLII. Male in diffeeent states, Adult Female and Nest. 



The plumage of many species of our birds undergoes at times very 

 extraordinary changes. Some, such as the male Tanagers, which during 

 the summer months exhibit the most vivid scarlet and velvety black, as- 

 sume a dingy green before they leave the country, on their way south- 

 ward. The Goldfinch nearly changes to the same colour, after having 

 been seen in a gay apparel of yellow and black. The Rice Bird loses 

 its lively brightness until the return of spring. Others take several years 

 before they complete their plumage, so as to shew the true place which 

 they hold amongst the other species, as is the case with the Ibis, the 

 Flamingo, and many other Waders, as well as with several of our land 

 birds, among which, kind reader, the species now under your considera- 

 tion is probably that in which these gradual improvements are most ob- 

 servable by such persons as reside in the country inhabited by them. 



The plumage of the young birds of this species, when they leave the 

 nest, resembles that of the female parent, although rather less decided in 

 point of colouring, and both males and females retain this colour until 

 the approach of the following spring, when the former exhibit a portion 

 of black on the chin, the females never altering. In birds kept in cages, 

 this portion of black remains without farther augmentation for two years ; 

 but in those which are at hberty, a curious mixture of dull orange or 

 deep chestnut peeps out through a considerable increase of black-co- 

 loured feathers over the body and wings, intermixed with the yellowish- 

 oreen hue which the bird had when it left the nest. The third spring 

 brings him nearer towards perfection, as at that time the deep chestnut 

 colour has taken possession of the lower parts, the black has deepened on 

 the upper parts, and over the whole head, as well as on the wings and 

 tail-feathers. Yet the garb with which it is ultimately to be covered 

 requires another return of spring before it is completed, after which it 

 remains as exhibited in the adult male, represented in the plate. 



These extraordinary changes are quite sufficient of themselves to lead 

 naturalists abroad into error, as they give rise to singular arguments even 



