BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 



17 



black on the shoulders is also divided by a band of orange ; 

 exterior edges of the greater wing-coverts, as well as the 

 edges of the secondaries, and part of those of the primaries, 

 white ; the tail-feathers under the coverts, orange ; the two 

 middle ones, from thence to the tips, are black ; the next five, 

 on each side, black near the coverts, and orange towards the 

 extremities, so disposed that, when the tail is expanded, and 

 the coverts removed, the black appears in the form of a 

 pyramid, supported on an arch of orange. Tail, slightly 

 forked, the exterior feather on each side, a quarter of an inch 

 shorter than the others ; legs and feet, light blue, or lead 

 colour ; iris of the eye, hazel. 



The female has the head, throat, upper part of the neck and. 

 back, of a dull black, each feather being skirted with olive 

 yellow; lower part of the back, rump, upper tail-coverts, and 

 whole lower parts, orange yellow, but much duller than that 

 of the male ; the whole wing-feathers are of a deep dirty 

 brown, except the quills, which are exteriorly edged, and the 

 greater wing-coverts, and next superior row, which are broadly 

 tipt with a dull yellowish white*; tail, olive yellow; in some 

 specimens, the two middle feathers have been found partly 

 black, in others wholly so ; the black on the throat does not 

 descend so far as in the male, is of a lighter tinge, and more 

 irregular ; bill, legs, and claws, light blue* 



Buffon and Latham have both described the male of the 

 bastard baltimore (Oriolus spurius) as the female baltimore. 

 Mr Pennant has committed the same mistake ; and all the 

 ornithologists of Europe, with whose works I am acquainted, 



* The change of the plumage of this bird, according to age, is 

 beautifully represented on one of Mr Audubon's gigantic plates, together 

 with its favourite tulip tree, and curious pensile nest. According to 

 that gentleman, the male does not receive his full plumage until the 

 third spring. In the male of one year, the bill is dark brown above, 

 pale blue beneath ; the iris, brown ; feet, light blue. The general 

 colour is dull brownish yellow, tinged with olive on the head and 

 back ; the wings, blackish brown ; the quills and large coverts mar- 

 gined and tipped with white ; the lesser coverts are olivaceous ; the 



B 



