40 THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE, OR HANG-NEST. 



cling to the outside, and creep in and out of it like young Woodpeckers. 

 After leaving the nest, they follow the parents for nearly a fortnight, and 

 are fed by them. As soon as the mulberries and figs become ripe, they 

 resort to these fruits, and are equally fond of sweet cherries, strawberries, 

 and others. During spring, their principal food is insects, which they seldom 

 pursue on the wing, but which they search for with great activity, among 

 the leaves and branches. I have seen the young of the first brood out early 

 in May, and of the second in July. As soon as they are fully able to take 

 care of themselves, they generally part from each other, and leave the coun- 

 try, as their parents had come, that is, singly. 



During migration, the flight of the Baltimore Oriole is performed high 

 above all the trees, and mostly during day, as I have usually observed them 

 alighting, always singly, about the setting of the sun, uttering a note or two, 

 and darting into the lower branches to feed, and afterwards to rest. To 

 assure myself of this mode of travelling by day, I marked the place where a 

 beautiful male had perched one evening, and on going to the spot next 

 morning, long before dawn, I had the pleasure of hearing his first notes as 

 light appeared, and saw him search awhile for food, and afterwards mount 

 in the air, making his way to warmer climes. Their flight is straight and 

 continuous. 



This beautiful bird is easily kept in cages, and may be fed on dried figs, 

 raisins, hard-boiled eggs, and insects. When shot they will often clench the 

 twig so firmly as to remain hanging fast to it until dislodged by another shot 

 or a blow against the twig. 



The Baltimore Oriole, although found throughout the Union, is so partial 

 to particular sections or districts, that of two places not twenty miles distant 

 from each other, while none are to be seen in the one, a dozen pairs or more 

 may be in the neighbourhood of the other. They are fondest of hilly 

 grounds, refreshed by streams. 



According to Dr. Richardson this species ranges through the central 

 districts of the Fur Countries up to the 55th degree of latitude, arriving on 

 the Saskatchewan plains on the 10th of May. At this period I saw it breed- 

 ing and abundant in the Texas; but none were observed by me in Labrador 

 or Newfoundland. I have ascertained to my perfect satisfaction, that the 

 males of this elegant species obtain the full beauty of their plumage before 

 the first winter after their birth, having seen several individuals taken from 

 the nest and reared in aviaries acquire their full plumage by the end of 

 September. They feed kindly and breed well in a state of confinement, 

 taking great care of their young. 



In the wild state I have frequently seen these birds feed on those beautiful 

 green coleopterous insects called "May-bugs," but they seldom eat them in 



