ORCHARD ORIOLE. 153 



scientific friends, the Messrs. Bartrams, of Kingsess, — whicli present an 

 epitome of almost everything that is rare, useful, and beautiful in the 

 vegetable kingdom of this western continent, and where the murderous 

 gun scarce ever intrudes, — the Orchard Oriole revels without restraint, 

 through thickets of aromatic flowers and blossoms ; and heedless of the 

 busy gardener that labors below,' hangs his nest, in perfect security, on 

 the branches over his head. 



The female sits fourteen days ; the young remain in the nest ten days 

 afterwards,* before they venture abroad, which is generally about the 

 middle of June. Nests of this species, with eggs, are sometimes found 

 so late as the twentieth of July, which must belong to birds that have 

 lost their first nest ; or it is probable that many of them raise two broods 

 in the same season, though I am not positive of the fact. 



The Orchard Orioles arrive in Pennsylvania rather later than the 

 Baltimores, commonly about the first week in May ; and extend as far 

 as the province of Maine. They are also more numerous towards the 

 mountains than the latter species. In traversing the country near the 

 Blue Ridge, in the month of August, I have seen at least five of this 

 species for one of the Baltimore. Early in September, they take their 

 departure for the south ; their term of residence here being little more 

 than four months. Previous to their departure, the young birds become 

 gregarious, and frequent the rich extensive meadows of the Schuylkill, 

 below Philadelphia, in flocks of from thirty to forty or upwards. They 

 are easily raised from the nest, and soon become agreeable domestics. 

 One which I reared and kept through the winter, whistled with great 

 clearness and vivacity at two months old. It had an odd manner of 

 moving its head and neck slowly and regularly, and in various direc- 

 tions, when intent on observing anything, without stirring its body. 

 This motion was as slow and regular as that of a snake. When at night a 

 candle was brought into the room, it became restless and evidently dis- 

 satisfied, fluttering about the cage as if seeking to get out ; but when 

 the cage was placed on the same table with the candle, it seemed 

 extremely well pleased, fed and drank, dressed, shook, and arranged its 

 plumage, sat as close to the light as possible, and sometimes chanted a 

 few broken irregular notes in that situation, as I sat writing or reading 

 beside it. I also kept a young female of the same nest, during the 

 greatest part of winter, but could not observe, in that time, any change 

 in its plumage. 



* There is evidently some mistake here, as the young could hardly be fledged 

 in ten days. 



