148 ORCHARD ORIOLE. 



How the influence of climate could affect one portion of a species and 

 not the other, when hoth reside in the same climate, and feed nearly on 

 the same food ; or what accidental cause could produce a difference so 

 striking, and also so regular, as exists between the two, are, I confess, 

 matters beyond my comprehension. But, if it be recollected, that the 

 bird which the Count was thus philosophizing upon, was nothing more than 

 the female Baltimore Oriole, which exactly corresponds to the descrip- 

 tion of his male Bastard Baltimore, the difficulties at once vanish, and 

 with them the whole superstructure of theory founded on this mistake. 

 Dr. Latham also, while he confesses the great confusion and uncertainty 

 that prevail between the true and bastard Baltimore and their females, 

 considers it highly probable that the whole will be found to belong to 

 one and the same species, in their different changes of color. In this 

 conjecture, however, the worthy naturalist has likewise been mistaken ; 

 and I shall endeavor to point out the fact as well as the source of this 

 mistake. 



And here I cannot but take notice of the name which naturalists 

 have bestowed on this bird, and which is certainly remarkable. Specific 

 names, to be perfect, ought to express some peculiarity, common to no 

 other of the genus ; and should, at least, be consistent with truth ; but 

 in the case now before us, the name has no one merit of the former, nor 

 even that of the latter to recommend it, and ought henceforth to be re- 

 jected as highly improper, and calculated, like that of Goatsucker, and 

 many others equally ridiculous, to perpetuate that error from which it 

 originated. The word bastard among men has its determinate meaning ; 

 but when applied to a whole species of birds, perfectly distinct from any 

 other, originally deriving their peculiarities of form, manners, color, &c., 

 from the common source of all created beings, and perpetuating them, 

 by the usual laws of generation, as unmixed and independent as any 

 other, is, to call it by no worse a name, a gross absurdity. Should the 

 reader be displeased at this, I beg leave to remind him, that as the faith- 

 ful historian of our feathered tribes, I must be allowed the liberty of 

 vindicating them from every misrepresentation whatever, whether origi- 

 nating in ignorance or prejudice ; and of allotting to each respective 

 species, as far as I can distinguish, that rank and place in the great 

 order of nature, to which it is entitled. 



To convince the foreigner (for Americans have no doubt on the sub- 

 ject) that the present is a distinct species from the Baltimore, it might 

 be sufficient to refer to the figure of the latter, in Plate I., and to fig. 4, 

 Plate IV., of this work. I will however add, that I conclude this bird 

 to be specifically different from the Baltimore, from the following cir- 

 cumstances : its size — it is less, and more slender ; its colors, which are 

 different, and very differently disposed ; the form of its bill, which is 

 sharper pointed, and more bent ; the form of its tail, which is not even 



