and in Illinois in large oaks and maples. Further south, on the Mississippi and Ohio, 

 the beautiful tulip trees are its favorite haunts. Wherever it occurs it prefers the 

 society of man, breeding in large trees in gardens, orchards, pleasure grounds, pastures, 

 and oil the outskirts of woodlands. It even enters towns and larger cities. For a 

 number of years a pair nested regularly in one of the large elms standing in a street in 

 the city of Milwaukee. Wherever it feels safe it soon becomes very much attached to 

 man, singing and nesting frequently in close proximity of dwellings. It is a peculiar 

 fact that we find these Orioles common in one locality and not at all in another 

 apparently just as well suited to its tastes. It is partial to particular sections, 

 especially to hilly and well-watered regions, w^hile several miles away none may be 

 found. With most of our country people these birds are great favorites, and they do 

 not allow that these fiery plumed tenants of their domain be in any way molested. 

 Gay and brilliant in plumage, lively and pleasant in its manners, a quick and graceful 

 flyer, and a vocalist of rare power, "with pathos, beauty and variety in its notes," the 

 Baltimore Oriole must be a great favorite w^ith everyone who is not indolent and without 

 feeling. 



The Baltimore Oriole is one of our most conspicuous and melodious vocalists, 

 announcing its presence from the time of its arrival until the young are hatched. No bird 

 song of our gardens is so impressive, so loud and full of hilarity. The Golden Robin is 

 indeed the herald of the blossoming season. At all events, the blossoms of the fruit trees 

 and the Orioles come together. We hear their first notes when the cherry and apple trees 

 wear their full spring array. Then they are in high spirits, "gaily flashing from one 

 tree to another, and sounding forth their golden-toned trumpets from the fragrant clouds 

 of white bloom, amid which they spend many an hour while the blossoms remain." The 

 few notes of which the song of this Oriole consists are uttered frequently, with great 

 force and fine modulations. It also possesses a considerable power of imitation, and its 

 attempts of uttering a few notes of such birds as the Cardinal, the Scarlet Tanager, 

 and the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, are no failure. Its sweet whistling is especially heard 

 in the early morning. If we look for the songster we are likely to find it among the 

 swaying branches of an elm or in the blossoming orchard trees, where it is busily 

 engaged in searching for insect food. Peering into every crevice, under each leaf, into 

 every flower cup for its prey, it warbles at the same time incessantly its flute-like notes. 

 When flying from one tree to another, it also sings or utters its rattling call-notes trrrr 

 to assure its mate of its presence and whereabouts. 



At its arrival and until the time of the appearance of the females the notes are 

 loud and rather shrill, and the noisy rattle is more frequently heard than later. At 

 this time the males are also more restless, very active and jDUgnacious. "When, a few 

 days after their arrival," says Dr. T. M. Brewer, "they are joined by the females, the 

 whole character of their song changes, which becomes a lower-toned, richer, and more 

 pleasing refrain. During their love season their resonant and peculiarly mellow whistle 

 resounds in every garden and orchard, along the highway of our villages, and in the 

 parks and public squares of our cities. Nuttall, generally very felicitous in expressing 

 by verbal equivalents the notes of various species of our songbirds, describes the notes 

 of its song as running thus, Tshippe-tshayia-too-too-tsbippe-tshippe-too-too, with 



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