ORCHARD ORIOLE. 285 



the gardens they favor with their presence. At the same time they are entirely innocent 

 of injury to crops of any description, and I cannot find that any accusations or 

 expressions of suspicion have been raised against them. They seem to be, therefore, 

 general favorites, and, wherever protected, evince their appreciation of this good-will by 

 their familiarity and numbers." 



I have observed that the parents returned to the nest, during one hour, thirty-seven 

 times with insects, .carrying from one to four at a time. These were mostly eater-pillars 

 and moths. When the young are very small, they are fed exclusively with plant lice and 

 other diminutive insects, and when they are fully grown, grasshoppers and beetles are 

 carried to them in large numbers. The smaller insects are collected from the foliage and 

 the flowers, and the sharp and pointed bill is also well adapted to draw lurking insects 

 from the crevices of the bark. In Texas they also relish ripe figs, which are cracked 

 or stung and nibbled by insects. I have never seen that these and other birds, who 

 .visited the fig trees, took perfect and not over ripe fruit. They consumed only those 

 figs which were cracked, very juicy, and full of insects. 



The Orchard Oriole leaves south-western Missouri early in September, and in 

 south-eastern Texas I have seen none after the second week in October. From the time 

 of their moulting, when the young are able to shift for themselves, until their departure 

 these birds are perfectly silent, live very retired, and are scarcely seen in their spring 

 haunts. "With joyfiil song and in great activity and hilarity they arrived, silently and 

 unnoticed they depart for their winter-quarters. 



Their winter home is found from southern Mexico to Panama. 



NAMES: Orchard Oriole, Orchard Hangnest, Brown Hangnest. 



SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Oriolas spurius Linn. (1766). ICTERUS SPURIUS Bonap. (1825), Aud., Nutt. 

 Oriolus varius Gmel. (1766). Oriolus castaneus Lath. (1790). Pendalinus affinis Cass. (1867). 



DESCRIPTION: Bill, slender; tail, moderately graduated. ''Adult male: Head, neck, middle of chest, back, 

 scapulars, wings (except lesser and middle coverts) and tail, deep black, the greater wing-coverts, 

 quills and secondaries edged, more or less distinctly, with pale chestnut or whitish; rest of plumage, 

 uniform rich dark chestnut or bay, deepest on breast. Adult female: Upper parts, yellowish-olive, 

 much duller and grayer on back and scapulars; wings, grayish-dusky, with two white bands, all the 

 feathers with paler brownish-gray edgings; tail, yellowish-olive, like rump, etc.; lower parts, entirely 

 light olive-yellow. Young male, second year: Similar to adult female, but lores, chin, and throat, 

 black. (The chestnut and rest of the black appearing in patches, increasing in extent, during successive 

 seasons.) Young of the year: Similar to adult female, but suffused with brownish, especially on 



upper parts. 



"Length, 6.00 to 7.35 inches; wing, 2.90 to 3.25; tail, 2.65 to 3.20 inches." (Ridgway.) 



