ORIOLE. 121 



as strong, and are in general more shy ; the colours in different birds 

 also vary much, having more or less chestnut and black spots, and 

 in the distribution of colours. 



One sent by Mr. Abbot, had the upper parts like a female, but 

 more inclined to green ; beneath like that sex, but the yellow rather 

 deeper; chin and throat black ; and from the nostrils to the eyes, the 

 black margined beneath with a ferruginous tinge. This was probably 

 a cock of the first summer, as, according to Mr. Abbot, they do not 

 acquire the full plumage for three or four years. 



We have much the same account in the Amer. Ornithology, in 

 which Mr. Wilson observes, that they generally make the nest of a 

 hemispherical shape, and suspend it from the twigs of an apple tree, 

 usually in orchards; and that it is composed of a loose, tough, 

 flexible grass, well knit and sewed together, lined with wool, and 

 light down of the seeds of the Button-wood ; * and that the hen sits 

 fourteen days. We learn, too, that the chief food is insects ; and 

 the young birds are easily raised from the nest, being now and then 

 kept for the sake of the song. 



32— LESSER BONANA ORIOLE. 



Oriolus Xanthornus, Ind. Orn.'i. 181. Lin. Syst.'x. 162. Gm.Lin.i. 391. Nat. Misc. 



pi. 243. Shaw's Zool. vii. 432. 

 Xanthornus Mexicanus, Bris. ii. 118. t. 11. 2. Id. 8vo. i. 183. 

 Icterus Xanthornus, Daud. ii. 334. 



Ayoquantototl, Rail Syn. 171. Seb. ii. 102. t. 96. 4. Klein. Av. 54. 7. 

 Petit Cul jaune de Cayenne, Buf. iii. 247. PL enl. 5. f. 1. 

 Lesser Bonana Oriole, Gen. Syn. ii. 438. Id: Sup. ii. 125. Edw. pi. 243. 



LENGTH seven inches and a half. Bill blackish ; face, throat, 

 quills, and tail black ; the rest of the bird bright yellow ; wing 

 coverts black, chiefly edged with white, as are the quills within, 

 towards the base ; legs black. 



* Platanus occidentals, Lin. 

 VOL. III. R 



