The number of eggs vary from two to 

 five and "sets of one or two eggs of this 

 Oriole, with two or three cowbird's eggs, 

 seem to be most frequently found, some 

 of the first named eggs being thrown out 

 to make room." The eggs are ovate in 

 form and the general color varies from 

 white with a bluish cast to white with a 

 grayish cast and in some instances a pur- 

 ple shade predominates. The markings 

 vary greatly both in color and form. They 

 may be either thread-like, in streaks or in 

 blotches. In color they may be various 



shades of either brown, purple or laven- 

 der. 



The food of Audubon's Oriole consists 

 of insects and, to some extent, of berries 

 and other fruits. Mr. Chark, who studied 

 the habits of this species in Texas, says 

 that he observed it frequently feeding on 

 the fruit of the hackberry. He also states 

 that these birds were usually in pairs and 

 exhibited a retiring disposition, prefer- 

 ring the thick foliage of the margins of 

 streams rather than that of more open 

 and exposed places. 



Seth Mindwell. 



TO A SEA-BIRD. 



Sauntering hither on listless wings, 



Careless vagabond of the sea, 

 Little thou heedest the surf that sings, 

 The bar that thunders, the shale that rings, — 



Give me to keep thy company. 



Little thou hast, old friend, that's new, 



Storms and wrecks are old things to thee; 

 Sick am I of these changes, too; 

 Little to care for, little to rue, — 



I on the shore, and thou on the sea, 



All of thy wanderings, far and near, 



Bring thee at last to shore and me; 

 All of my journeyings end them here, 

 This our tether must be our cheer, — 



I on the shore and thou on the sea. 



Lazily rocking on ocean's breast, 



Something in common, old friend, have we; 

 Thou on the shingle seek'st thy nest, 

 I to the waters look for rest, — 



I on the shore, and thou on the sea. 



—Bret Harte. 



197 



