PERCHERS. 



99 



under parts yellow, with a black crescent upon the 

 breast. The nest is built at the foot of a tuft of grass, 

 and is covered over, except the entrance. 



The Baltimore Oriole, or Golden Robin, is as large 

 as a Sparrow, the color black and orange-red, and is 

 one of the most beautiful Birds in the United States. 

 Its song is loud, full, and mellow. Its hanging nest, 

 often made from the silkweed, is woven to the outer- 

 drooping twigs of trees. 



Crows, Ravens, Jays, and Magpies. 



These are rather large Birds. The Raven 

 largest. It is but seldom seen east of the Missi 

 The Crow is well known, and farmers re- 

 gard it as their enemy, because it pulls up 

 the young corn ; but it does much more 

 good than harm, by destroying a great 

 number of grubs, which would injure the 

 crops. The Blue Jay is a bird of won- 

 derful beauty, but its notes are harsh, 

 it eats the eggs of other birds, and even 

 destroys young birds, swallowing them 

 greedily. The Mag- 

 pie is about as large 

 as a Do\'e, black and 

 white, and the tail 

 is very long. There 

 are t\vo kinds in 

 North America, and 

 one in Europe. It 

 is a noisy bird, and 

 it can be taught to 

 speak. 



is the 

 ssippi. 



Fig. 141. — Magpie. 



