224 ORCHARD ORIOLE. 



This species makes its first appearance in Louisiana early in March, 

 and remains until October, being seen for several weeks after the Balti- 

 more Oriole has set out. In reaches the Middle Districts in the begin- 

 ning of April. I have met with it as far as the province of Maine and 

 the head waters of the Mississippi. It is fond of high ground and the 

 neighbourhood of mountains during the breeding season, after which it 

 removes to the meadows and prairies in considerable numbers. Whilst 

 in these meadows, it feeds principally upon a small species of cricket, 

 ground spiders and small grasshoppers. Their flesh is very good at 

 that late season, and is much esteemed by the Creoles of Louisiana. 



The French of that State give it the name of Papc de Prairie, while 

 they designate the Baltimore Oriole by that of Pape de Bois, which arises 

 no doubt from the marked preference which the former manifests to the 

 plains in autumn, where a great number are shot or caught in trap cages. 

 It is easily kept in cages, where it sings with all the liveliness which it 

 shews in its wild state, and may be fed on rice and dry fruits, when fresh 

 ones cannot be procured. I have known one of these birds, a beautiful 

 male, kept for upwards of four years by a friend of mine at New Orleans. 

 It had been raised from the nest, and having passed through the different 

 changes of its plumage, had become perfect, was full of action, and sung 

 delightfully. 



The nest represented in the plate was drawn in Louisiana, and was 

 entirely composed of grass. It may be looked upon as a sample of the 

 usual form and construction. The branch of Honey Locust on which 

 you see these birds belongs to a tree which sometimes grows to a great 

 height, without much apparent choice of situation. It is more abundant 

 to the west of the AUeghanies, and towards the Southern Districts, than in 

 the Middle States. The wood is brittle and seldom used. The trunk and 

 branches are frequently covered with innumerable long, sharp, and ex- 

 tremely hard spines, protruded in every direction, and in some instances 

 placed so near to each other as to preclude the possibility of any person"'s 

 climbing them. It bears a long pod, containing a sweet substance, not 

 unlike that of the honey of bees, and which is eaten by children, when it 

 becomes quite ripe. The spines are made use of by tobacconists for the 

 purpose of fastening together the different twists of their rolls. 



