46 



THE ORCHARD ORIOLE, OR HANG-NEST. 



•+ Icterus spurius, Gmel. 

 PLATE CCXIX.— Male, Young Male, Female and Nest. 



The plumage of many species of our birds undergoes at times very extra- 

 ordinary changes. Some, such as the male Tanagers, which during the 

 summer months exhibit the most vivid scarlet and velvety black, assume a 

 dingy green before they leave the country, on their way southward. The 

 Goldfinch nearly changes to the same colour, after having been seen in a gay 

 apparel of yellow and black. The Rice-bird loses its lively brightness until 

 the return of spring. Others take several years before they complete their 

 plumage, so as to shew the true place which they hold amongst the other 

 species, as is the case with the Ibis, the Flamingo, and many other Waders, 

 as well as with several of our land birds, among which, kind reader, the 

 species now under your consideration is probably that in which these gradual 

 improvements are most observable by such persons as reside in the country 

 inhabited by them. 



The plumage of the young birds of this species, when they leave the nest, 

 resembles that of the female parent, although rather less decided in point of 

 colouring, and both males and females retain this colour until the approach 

 of the following spring, when the former exhibit a portion of black on the 

 chin, the females never altering. In birds kept in cages, this portion of 

 black remains without farther augmentation for two years; but in those 

 which are at liberty, a curious mixture of dull orange or deep chestnut peeps 

 out through a considerable increase of black-coloured feathers over the body 

 and wings, intermixed with the yellowish-green hue which the bird had 

 when it left the nest. The third spring brings him nearer towards perfec- 

 tion, as at that time the deep chestnut colour has taken possession of the 

 lower parts, the black has deepened on the upper parts, and over the whole 

 head, as well as on the wings and tail-feathers. Yet the garb with which it 

 is ultimately to be covered requires another return of spring before it is com- 

 pleted, after which it remains as exhibited in the adult male, represented in 

 the plate. 



These extraordinary changes are quite sufficient of themselves to lead 

 naturalists abroad into error, as they give rise to singular arguments even 

 with some persons in America, who maintain that the differences of colour 



