ORIOLE. 109 



within the ponds, the beginning of May ; makes a strong and deep nest, 

 formed outwardly with sticks, and dried stalks, lined with hay ; lays 

 rive pale black eggs, spotted with dark brown.* Catesby says, they 

 attach the nest to the reeds ; but if so, they must have two modes of 

 building ; on all hands it is allowed to be a very destructive species, 

 for they come often in such vast flocks, that at one draw of the net 

 300 or more have been taken. These nets are spread in a bare path, 

 at the side of a wood, and the place being strewed with rice, &c. it 

 often happens that so many are taken, as to be obliged to kill most of 

 them, in order to secure so vast a number. They are called by many 

 Maize-thieves, from destroying that grain ; and first attack it while 

 green, pecking a hole in the side, by which the rain gets in, and spoils 

 the ear ; but some suppose the bird to do this in search of insects, 

 which would ultimately destroy such ears. 



These birds are sometimes kept in cages, and have a pretty kind 

 of note ; it is said also that they will imitate the human voice, but I 

 suspect this to be a rare instance ; nor does it appear that the flesh is 

 well relished. f 



The Red-winged Orioles enter Pennsylvania about the 20th of 

 March, and separate into pairs in three weeks after ; the nest is 

 found the last week in April, commonly made of rushes and tough 

 grass, lined with bents, and secured to the adjoining twigs, though 

 sometimes placed on the ground, or very near it ; the young fly the 

 middle of August, and often in flocks, at which time they l'esemble 

 females. The brown continues to skirt the black feathers for a year 

 or two, so that it is rare to find an old male entirely black, but the 

 red is generally complete the following spring. { 



One of these birds, completely white, was shot in the winter, in 

 a plantation belonging to Mr. Read, about ten miles from Savannah. 



* Am. Ornith. says, faint tinges of light purple and long straggling lines and dashes of black. 

 t Mr. Abbot. $ Amer. Ornith. — Mr. Abbot sent to England a bird, having all 



the black feathers margined with fine rufous, which had the appearance of a young male— 

 but it was larger than any full-grown bird, and he esteemed it a distinct Species, by the 

 name of Streaked Oriole. 



