48 THE ORCHARD ORIOLE, OR HANG-NEST. 



the twigs more immediately around the chosen place. The filaments are 

 twisted, passed over and under, and interwoven in such a manner as almost 

 to defy the eye of man to follow their windings. All this is done by the 

 bill of the bird, in the manner used by the Baltimore Oriole. The nest is of 

 a hemispherical form, and is supported by the margin only. It seldom 

 exceeds three or four inches in depth, is open almost to the full extent of its 

 largest diameter at the top or entrance, and finished on all sides, as well as 

 within, with the long slender grasses already mentioned. Some of these go 

 round the nest several times, as if coarsely woven together. This is the 

 manner in which the nest is constructed in Louisiana; in the Middle Districts 

 it is usually lined with soft and warm materials. The female lays from four 

 to six eggs, of a bluish-white tint, sprinkled with dark brown, and raises only 

 a single brood in the season. The young follow the parents for several 

 weeks, and many birds congregate towards autumn, but the males soon 

 separate from the females, and set out by themselves as they arrived in 

 spring. 



The sociality of the Orchard Oriole is quite remarkable, and in this 

 respect that bird differs widely from the Baltimore, which will not suffer 

 any other bird of its species to build a nest, or to remain within a consider- 

 able distance from the spot which it has selected for its own; whereas many 

 nests of the species now before you may be observed in the same garden or 

 orchard, and often within a few yards of the house. I have counted as many 

 as nine of these nests on a few acres of ground, and the different pairs to 

 which they belonged lived in great harmony. 



Although the food of the Orchard Orioles consists principally of insects of 

 various kinds, it is not composed exclusively of them. They are fond of 

 different sorts of fruits and berries. Figs are also much relished by them, 

 as well as mulberries and strawberries, but not to such a degree as to draw 

 the attention of the gardener or husbandman towards their depredations. 



This species makes its first appearance in Louisiana early in March, and 

 remains until October, being seen for several weeks after the Baltimore 

 Oriole has set out. It reaches the Middle Districts in the beginning of 

 April. I have met with it as far as the State of Maine and the head waters 

 of the Mississippi. It is fond of high ground and the neighbourhood of 

 mountains during the breeding season, after which it removes to the meadows 

 and prairies in considerable numbers. Whilst in these meadows, it feeds 

 principally upon a small species of cricket, ground spiders and small grass- 

 hoppers. Their flesh is very good late in the season, and is much esteemed 

 by the Creoles of Louisiana. 



The French of that State give it the name of Pape de Prairie, while they 

 designate the Baltimore Oriole by that of Pape de Bois, which arises no 



