318 PERCHERS AND SINGERS 
The mouth of the Oriole’s bag-like nest is thin but strong, 
and terminates in an edge as thin and firm as haircloth. A 
nest now before me is five inches long, four inches in outside 
diameter at a point half way between bottom and top, and 
its opening is two inches in diameter. For a space of two 
inches, the horse-hairs of the upper margin are wrapped around 
an elm twig the size of a slate-pencil. At no point are the 
walls more than a quarter of an inch in thickness, and the 
inside is as symmetrical and shapely as if the nest had been 
woven around a form. 
The usefulness of the Baltimore Oriole is fully equal to 
its beauty. As a destroyer of caterpillars it has few equals 
among birds. In May, insects constitute 92 per cent of its 
food, and in April and July 70 per cent. For the entire year, 
animal food, chiefly caterpillars and beetles, constitute 83.4 
per cent of its food, and vegetable matter the remainder of 
16.6 per cent. 
Tue PurpPte GRackLE, or Crow Buacxsirp,' has 
prompted scores of persons to ask, ““What is the name of that 
very shiny, jet-black bird with a long tail?”? No wonder it 
attracts attention, especially in contrast with the lustreless 
rusty blackbird. Its color is deep purple-black, and it is as 
shiny as if it had been varnished all over. It loves to follow 
the plough, and pick up the big, fat grubs that are exposed 
to view, before they have had time to burrow out of sight. 
Often in their eagerness not to miss a chance, these birds 
will approach within ten feet of the plough-handles. It is 
then that one notices that their eyes are light yellow, and 
1 Quis’ca-lus quis’cu-la. Length, about 12 inches. 
