BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 21 



Their principal food consists of caterpillars, beetles, and 

 bugs, particularly one of a brilliant glossy green, fragments 

 of which I have almost always found in their stomach, and 

 sometimes these only. 



The song of the baltimore is a clear mellow whistle, re- 

 peated at short intervals as he gleans among the branches. 

 There is in it a certain wild plaintiveness and naivete ex- 

 tremely interesting. It is not uttered with the rapidity of the 

 ferruginous thrush (Turdus rufus), and some other eminent 

 songsters ; but with the pleasing tranquillity of a careless 

 ploughboy, whistling merely for his own amusement. When 

 alarmed by an approach to his nest, or any such circumstance, 

 he makes a kind of rapid chirruping, very different from his 

 usual note. This, however, is always succeeded by those 

 mellow tones which seem so congenial to his nature. 



High on yon poplar, clad in glossiest green, 



The orange black-capped baltimore is seen ; 



The broad extended boughs still please him best, 



Beneath their bending skirts he hangs his nest ; 



There his sweet mate, secure from every harm, 



Broods o'er her spotted store, and wraps them warm ; 



Lists to the noontide hum of busy bees, 



Her partner's mellow song, the brook, the breeze ; 



These day by day the lonely hours deceive, 



From dewy morn to slow descending eve. 



Two weeks elapsed, behold ! a helpless crew 



Claim all her care, and her affection too ; 



On wings of love the assiduous nurses fly, 



Flowers, leaves, and boughs, abundant food supply ; 



Glad chants their guardian, as abroad he goes, 



And waving breezes rock them to repose. 



The baltimore inhabits North America, from Canada to 

 Mexico, and is even found as far south as Brazil. Since the 

 streets of our cities have been planted with that beautiful and 

 stately tree, the Lombardy poplar, these birds are our constant 

 visitors- during the early part of summer ; and, amid the noise 

 and tumult of coaches, drays, wheelbarrows, and the din of 

 the multitude, they are heard chanting " their native wood 

 notes wild ; " sometimes, too, within a few yards of an oyster- 



