THE ORIOLE. 361 



The Orioles ( 32 ) presented a brilliant group : 

 Some whose domes from one tree by whole centuries 



droop : 

 The Persictjs, he whom sound wisdom hath taught 

 That his welfare in union can only be sought ; 

 From the Serpents — the Apes, his alembical nest, 

 Moves secure o'er the breeze's soft billowy breast. 



( 32 ) Order, Ptc^, (Linn.) Oriole, the Hang-nest, the 

 Baltimore, the Golden, the Icteric, the Red-winged, 

 the Banana, the Black or Troupiole. 



The genus ORiOLUs r (Linn.) or Oriole, comprehends 

 upwards of sixty species, chiefly inhabitants of America; one 

 only, the Galbula, or Golden-Oriole, found occasionally in 

 this country. They have a conic, convex, very sharp and 

 straight bill ; tongue bifid; feet ambulatory. They are gre- 

 garious, noisy, numerous, voracious, and great devourers of 

 corn: they often build pendulous nests. The following are 

 most deserving of notice: — 



The JSidipendulus, or Hang-nest Oriole ; for an account of 

 which, see the Oriole's Song. 



The Baltimore, Baltimore-Oriole, Hang-nest, Hanging- 

 Bird, Golden- Robin, Fire- Bird, Baltimore- Bird, is seven inches 

 long; body above black, the rest orange; inhabits various 

 parts of North America, often in flocks, migrating as far as 

 Montreal to the north, and of Brazil to the south; most com- 

 mon in Virginia ; has a clear mellow whistle, but can be scarcely 

 termed a song. It attaches its nest to an apple-tree, a weeping- 

 willow, or the Lombardy-poplar, in the American towns ; the 

 nest is like a cylinder, five inches in diameter, seven in depth, 

 and round at the bottom ; the opening at the top narrowed by 

 a horizontal covering, two inches and half in diameter j the 

 materials flax, hemp, tow, hair, and wool, woven into a com- 

 plete cloth, the whole tightly sewed through and through with 



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