10 BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 
changing its plumage. At the approach of fall, not only the rich 
yellow fades ots a Brown olive, but the spot of black on the crown 
and forehead becomes also of the same olive tint. Mr. Edwards has 
also erred in saying, that the young male bird has the spot of black on 
the forehead; this it does not receive until the succeeding sprin * 
The figure in Edwards is considerably too large; and that by Catesby 
has the wings and tail much longer than in nature, and the body too 
slender, — very different from the true form of the living bird. Mr. 
Pennant alsog¢tells us, that the legs of this species are black; they are, 
however, of a bright cinnamon color; but the worthy naturalist, no 
doubt, described them as he found them in the dried and stuffed skin, 
shrivelled up and blackened with decay; and thus too much of our 
natural history has been delineated. 
’ 
—~—>——_——. 
BALTIMORE ORIOLE.—ORIOLUS BALTIMORE. — Fic. 3. 
Linn. Syst. i. p. 162, 10.—Icterus Minor, Briss. ii. p. 109, 19, t. 12, fig. 1.— Le 
Baltimore, Bug iit. p. 231. Pl. enl. 506, fig. 1. — Baltimore Bird, .Catesb. Car. 
“1.48. — Arct. Zool. ii. p. 142. — Lath. Syn. ii. p. 432, 19.— Bartram, p. 230.— 
Peale s Museum, No. 1506. ; 
‘ 
ICTERUS BALTIMORE. — Davpin. 
J 
Yphantes Baltimore, Vieill. Gal. des Ois. pl. 87. — Icterus Baltimore, Bonap. S: 
p. 51.— North. Zool. ii. p. 284. — Baltimore Oriole, pl. 12, and Orn. Biog. p. 66. 
Turs is a bird of passage, arriving in Pennsylvania, from the south, 
about the beginning of May, and departing towards the latter end of 
August, or beginning of September.t From the singularity of its 
colors, the construction of its nest, and its preferring the apple-trees, 
weeping willows, walnut and tulip-trees, adjoining the farm-house, to 
build on, it is generally known, and, as usual, honored with a variety 
* These changes take place in the Common Siskin of this country : indeed changes, 
and, in many cases, ainiler to those alluded to, are common, according to season, 
among all our Fringillide ; the Common Chaffinch loses the pale. gray of his fore 
head, which becomes deep bluish purple ; the head and back of the Brambling, or 
Mountain Finch, becomes a deep glossy black ; and the forehead and breasts of the 
different Linnets, from a russet brown, assume a rich and beautiful crimson. ‘They 
are chiefly produced by the falling off of the ends of the plumules of each feather, 
which hefore concealed the richer tints of its lower parts; at other times, by the 
entire change of color. The tint itself, however, is always much increased in beauty 
and gloss as the season for its display advances; at its termination the general 
moult commences, when the feathers are replaced with their new elongated tips, of 
a more sombre hue, which, no doubt, adds to the heat of the winter clothing, and 
remain until warmer weather and desires promote their dispersion. — Ep. 
t During migration, the flight of the Baltimore is high above all the trees, and is 
straight and continuous ; it is mostly performed during the day, as J have usually 
observed them alighting, always singly, about the setting of the sun, uttering a note 
aE B90, aod darting into the lower branches to feed, and afterwards to rest. — Au- 
On, —~ uD. 
