120 ORIOLE. 



rump, and all beneath from the breast, dull ferruginous; the lesser 

 wing coverts the same, but the greater, the quills, and tail are black ; 

 the second quills fringed on the outer edges with dusky white ; tail 

 much rounded, the two middle feathers two inches and three quarters, 

 and the outer two inches and a quarter in length ; two or three of the 

 outer fringed at the tip with a very pale-colour ; the wings reach 

 one-third on the tail ; legs as the bill. 



The female is pale greenish brown above, and full yellow 

 beneath ; crown dusky yellow ; wing feathers with very pale, nearly 

 white, margins. 



A young cock, of the second summer, is like the female, but the 

 yellow more dusky ; the chin, fore part of the neck, and throat 

 black, which is seen at the base of the upper mandible, between 

 that and the eye. 



A cock of the third summer is olive yellow, tending to brown 

 above, yellow beneath ; some black markings at the beginning of 

 the back, above each shoulder; wings dusky black, the feathers 

 having pale edges ; all beneath yellow ; chin, throat, and neck black, 

 as far as the ears, and even with the eye on the forehead : base of the 

 tail mixed with black ; on the breast a few markings of ferruginous 

 orange ; the upper part of the tail plain olive. 



We are indebted for these observations to Mr. Abbot, who further 

 informs us, that these birds frequent the sides of ponds in the spring, 

 and first part of summer, sitting on the top sprigs of the saplings, or 

 branches of the large pines, to warble out their notes ; as soon as the 

 young are able to follow the parents, they all leave Georgia. The 

 female begins to build the beginning of May, making the nest in the 

 fork of a sweet gum tree,* curiously woven with the small stalks of 

 a plant, like green hay, lined with wool, and lays five eggs, of a 

 pale or whitish blue, marked or streaked round the larger end with 

 dark brown. Young cocks have the manners of the old ones, singing 



* Amyris bahamifera. — Lin. 



