222 ORCHARD ORIOLE. 



with some persons in America, who maintain that the differences of colour 

 are indicative of different species. But, since the habits of these birds 

 under all these singular changes of plumage are ascertained to be pre- 

 cisely the same, the argument no longer holds good. I shall now en- 

 deavour to describe these habits with all the accuracy supplied by long 

 observation. 



The migration of the Orchard Oriole from south to north is performed 

 by day, and singly, as is that of its relative the Baltimore Oriole, the 

 males appearing a week or ten days sooner than the females. Their 

 flight is lower than that of the Baltimore, and considerably shorter in its 

 continuance, the Orchard Oriole alighting more frequently on the tops of 

 the trees, to rest or to feed. They exhibit a greater repetition of motions of 

 the Avings, although sliding through the air for a few yards only at a time, 

 and whilst about to alight, as well as afterwards, perform strong and well 

 marked jettings of the tail. This the Baltimore seldom does. No sooner 

 have they reached the portion of the country in which they intend to re- 

 main during the time of raising their young, than these birds exhibit all 

 the liveliness and vivacity belonging to their nature. The male is seen 

 rising in the air for ten or twenty yards in an indirect manner, jerking 

 his tail and body, flapping his wings, and singing with remarkable im- 

 petuosity, as if under the influence of haste, and anxious to return to the 

 tree from which he has departed. He accordingly descends Avith the 

 same motions of the body and tail, repeating his pleasant song as he 

 alights. These gambols and caroUings are performed frequently during 

 the day, the intervals being employed in ascending or descending along 

 the branches and twigs of chfferent trees, in search of insects or larvae. 

 In doing this, they rise on their legs, seldom without jetting the tail, 

 stretch their neck, seize the prey, and emit a single note, which is sweet 

 and mellow, although in power much inferior to that of the Baltimore. 

 At other times, it is seen bending its body downwards, in a curved pos- 

 ture, with the head greatly inclined upwards, to peep at the under parts 

 of the leaves, so as not to suffer any grub to escape its vigilance. It now 

 alights on the ground, where it has spied a crawling insect, and again 

 flies towards the blossoms, in which many are ku'king, and devours 

 hundreds of them each day, thus contributing to secvire to the farmer the 

 hopes which he has of the productiveness of liis orchard. 



The arrival of the females is marked with all due regard, and the 

 males immediately use every effort in their power to procure from them 



