28 THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 



on rump ; on head, throat, and back indistinctly spotted or streaked and clouded 

 with black ; wings fuscous ; two dingy white wing-bars formed by middle coverts 

 and ends of greater coverts. Young : Like female, the males gradually acquir- 

 ing the adult orange. Length 7.50-8.00 (190.5-203.2); av. of five Columbus 

 males : wing 3.70 (94.) ; tail 2.94 (74-7) ; bill .71 (18.). , 



Recognition Marks. — Chewink size ; orange and black coloration. The 

 females, though obscure, is enough like male to be readily distinguished. 



Nest, purse-shaped and pensile, being oftenest swung from the very tips 

 of drooping branches; a closely-woven fabric of grass, plant fibers, string, etc. 

 The lining proper is of the softest materials, — cotton, etc. Eggs, 3-6, rather 

 elongated, white (greenish or dull), elaborately scrawled and streaked with dark 

 browns or purple. Subdued shell-marking in spots or blotches is also usually 

 present. Av. size, .95 x .63 (24.1- x 16.). 



General Range. — Eastern United States, north to Ontario and Manitoba, 

 west nearly to Rocky Mountains ; south in winter through Mexico to Colombia. 



Range in Ohio. — Common summer resident. 



THE warm breath of spring has soothed the violet's last fears, and the 

 orchard trees are crowded with blossoms. Then comes one day warmer than 

 all the rest, when the spice-laden air pulsates with heat, and the heart with ex- 

 pectancy. Suddenly from ofif some blushing snow-bank of apple-blossoms 

 comes a jubilant whistle. 



"Hush! 'tis he! 

 My Oriole, my glance of summer fire, 

 Is come at last." 



A gorgeous male — one of the largest and the oldest, and therefore with colors 

 the most intense you will see that season — is helping himself eagerly to the 

 swarming tidbits which infest the flowers, but he stops every moment or so to 

 flute his excited greetings to the joyous villagers in the dear home town. The 

 news spreads rapidly, "The Orioles have come." That beautiful fleet which 

 ■silently stole away from our shores last autumn, and went we knew not. 

 whither, laden with its precious freight of song and memory, that winged, 

 fiery fleet, has come to port again, and brought our own with usury of flame, 

 and song, and unpent joy. Now spring is spring again ! 



The Baltimore Oriole is rather partial to the haunts of men, being most 

 frequently found along shady village streets, or in front-yard elms and 

 orchards of country seats, but in many portions of the state they are so abun- 

 dant as to be forced to hold to the edges of forests and the varied umbrage of 

 river bottoras. The males arrive in spring a week or ten days earlier than the 

 females, and during this period are restless and active. Their song too at this 

 time, as Dr. Brewer notes, is loud and shrill as well as fragmentary. Upon the 

 arrival of the females, the tender passion mellows the voices and improves the 

 manners of the expectant suitors. During the mating season the rich full notes 



