132 NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED. 



repeated, though marred m the case of the male 

 by the constant interpolation of harsh, scolding 

 notes. Anywhere, everywhere, all day, in pour- 

 ing rain, in high wind that silences nearly every 

 bird voice, the oi'ioles sing. One could not 

 overlook them if he wished, so noisy, so restless, 

 and so musical. Nor do they care to be un- 

 seen ; they make no attempt at concealment. 

 No oriole ever steals into a neighborhood in the 

 quiet way of the cat-bird, silently taking an ob- 

 servation of its inhabitants before making him- 

 self obvious ; on the contrary, all his deeds are 

 before the public, even his family quarrels. He 

 comes to a tree with a bustle, talking, scolding, 

 making himself and his affairs the most con- 

 spicuous things in the neighborhood. 



Many times he is most annoying. When 

 following some shy bird to its nest, or moving 

 down toward the grove where are the brooklet 

 and the birds' bathing- place, no matter how 

 quietly one may approach, footsteps deadened 

 by thick sand and no rustling garments to be- 

 tray, the orchard oriole is sure to know it. He 

 is not the only bird to see a stranger, of course ; 

 the brown thrush is as quick as he, but he 

 silently drops to the ground, if not already 

 there, and disappears without a sound ; the car- 

 dinal grosbeak slips down from his perch on the 

 farther side and takes wing near the ground ; 



