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ICTERUS BULLOCKII, BULLOCK's ORIOLE. 

 List of specimens. 



Lieutenant Warren's Expedition. — 5354, Farm Island. 



Later Exfpediiions.—UlVi-'ii, Ogden, Utah ; 61782-85, Devil's Creek, Idaho. 



The occurrence of this species eastward into Kansas, where, Prof. 

 Snow remarks, it is " quite frequent," has been lately determined. Its 

 range thus largely overlaps that of the Baltimore Oriole, both being 

 found over a considerable portion of the Missouri region, along the 

 wooded streams. From the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific it is the 

 characteristic species, entirely replacing the Baltimore. I have seen 

 but one record (above given) of its occurrence in British America. It 

 appears, however, to rarely penetrate to the uppermost Missouri. It is 

 strictly migratory, like our other representatives of the family, winter- 

 ing in Mexico. It appears over our border in March, but the migration 

 is not completed until the following month, when the forests it loves to 

 dwell in are clothed in verdure. My experience with the species en- 

 abled me to give, on a former occasion, the following account : 



"III the pine-clad mountains of Arizona and New Mexico, I never saw 

 it until about the middle of April ; then, and until the cool weather of 

 September, I was almost daily gratified with the sight of the gaily-hued 

 birds gleaming through the sombre foliage like tiny meteors, and with 

 the sound of their musical voices awakening echoes along the deepening 

 aisles of the woodland. 



"In the countries just mentioned, the belts of thick cotton-wood and 

 willows that generally fringe the streams are favorite resorts, perhaps 

 because the pliant twigs are best suited to their wants in constructing 

 their nests. All the Orioles are wonderful architects, weaving pensile 

 nests of soft, pliable, fibrous substances, with a nicety and beauty of 

 finish that human art would vainly attempt to rival. These elegant 

 fabrics are hung at the end of slender twigs, out of reach of ordinary 

 enemies ; and though they may swing with every breath of wind, this 

 is but cradle-rocking for the callow young, and it is a rude blast indeed 

 that endangers the safety of their leafy home. 



"Little time passes after their arrival before the modestly-attired 

 females, rambling silently through the verdure, are singled out and 

 attended each by her impetuous consort, who sings his choicest songs, 

 and displays the prowess she admires most. His song is an elegant 

 paraphrase of the Baltimore's, with all its richness and variety, though 

 an ear well skilled in distinguishing birds' notes can readily detect a 

 dlB'erence. Their courtship happily settled, the pair may be seen flut- 

 tering through the thicket they have chosen, in eager search for a 

 building-place ; and when a suitable one is found, no time is lost in 

 beginning to weave their future home. It is a great mistake to suppose 

 that birds of the same species always build in the same way. Though 

 their nests have a general resemblance in style of architecture, they 

 differ greatly according to their situation, to the time the birds have 

 before the nest must be used for the reception of the Cggs, and often, 

 we are tempted to think, according to the taste and skill of the builders, 

 lu their work of this sort, birds show a remarkable power of selection, 



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