ORIOLUS BALTIMORUS. 
BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 
[Plate IIII. Fig. 4— Female.] 
The history of this beautiful species has been ah'eady particubirly 
detailed ; to this representation of the female, drawn of half the size 
of nature, a few particulars may be added. The males generally arrive 
several days before the females, saunter about their wonted places of 
residence, and seem lonely and less sprightly than after the arrival of 
their mates. In the spring and summer of 1811, a Baltimore took up 
its abode in Mr. Bartram's garden, whose notes were so singular as 
particularly to attract my attention ; they were as well known to me as 
the voice of my most intimate friend. On the thirtieth of April, 1812, 
I was again surprised and pleased at hearing this same Baltimore in the 
garden, Avhistling his identical old cliaut ; and I observed that he par- 
ticularly frequented that quarter of the garden where the tree stood, 
on the pendent branches of which he had formed his nest the preceding 
year. This nest had been taken possession of by the House Wren, a 
few days after the Baltimore's bi'ood had abandoned it ; and, curious to 
know how the little intruder had furnished it within, I had taken it 
down early in the fall, after the Wren herself had also raised a brood 
of six young in it, and which was her second that season. I found it 
stripped of its original lining, floored with sticks, or small twigs, a.bove 
which were laid feathers ; so that the usual complete nest of the Wren 
occupied the interior of that of the Baltimore. 
The chief difference between the male and female Baltimore Oriole, 
is the superior brightness of the orange color of the former to that of 
the latter. The black on the head, upper part of the back and tliroat, 
of the female, is intermixed with dull orange ; whereas in the male 
those parts are of a deep shining black ; the tail of the female also 
wants the greater part of the black, and the whole lower parts are of a 
much duskier orange. 
I have observed that these birds are rarely seen in pine woods, or 
where these trees generally prevail. On the ridges of our high moun- 
tains, they are also seldom to be met with. In orchards, and on well 
cultivated farms, they are most numerous, generally preferring such 
places to build in, rather than the woods or forest. 
(146) 
