678 BULLOCK’S ORIOLE. 
The majority of these symmetrical figures do not possess the 
sharp outline of crystals, whilst others can doubtless be referred 
to the mineral salts held in solution in the composition of the 
feather. There are both rounded and sharply defined figures,— 
a fact which any one can verify by the microscope. If I am not 
mistaken, the erystalline forms are derived from the nucleated 
cells, and the rounded figures from the granular matter. 
Of the conditions necessary to produce these forms I know ab- 
solutely nothing. I have never yet succeeded in obtaining them 
from feathers which had long been removed from the living bird. 
This, however, proves nothing as I have frequently failed to pro- 
cure any from freshly dropped or plucked feathers, which yield 
them most readily. Of different cuttings from the same feather 
made during the same minute, and apparently subjected to the 
same treatment, some presented figures whilst others did not. 
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE. 
BY ELLIOTT COUES. 
Attnoven the beautiful bird referred to in the works cited * 
has been known by name for nearly half a century, no complete 
biography has yet appeared; and doubtless many readers of | 
the Naruratist will be glad to have such information as we can 
furnish from our study of its habits. We will premise that it is 
a near relative of the Baltimore oriole, or fire-bird, or hangnest, 
as it is indifferently called; a bird whose striking colors and 
brilliant vocal powers, together with its abundance in our streets 
and orchards, have made it a well-known favorite. Like the Dbal- 
timore, it is chiefly black and orange in color, but it differs in 4 
having a large white patch on the wings, and the sides of the A 
head and neck orange instead of black. The female, as in all the a 
orioles, is smaller than the male and with hardly a trace of his - 
*Xanthorthus Bullockii Sw AINSON, Phil. Mag. i, 1827, p. 436.—AUDUBON, Orn. Biog. ¥) 
1839, p. 9, pls. 388, 433, and 8vo, ed. iv, 1842, p. 43, pl. 218.—Pacific Railroad Reports, a 
1857, p. 87; ix, 1858, p. 549; x, 1859, p. 52; xii, 1859, p. 209, and Mex. Bound. survey, fi, 
pt. 2, 1859, p. 20.—CouEs, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philada., 1866, p. 55.—COOPER, pe: 
Birds, i, p. 278.— Psarocolius auricollis of MAXIMILIAN. 
