148 
ORCHARD ORIOLE. 
How the influence of climate could affect one portion of a species and 
not the other, when both reside in the same climate, and feed nearly on 
the same food ; or what accidental cause could produce a difference so 
striking, and also so regular, as exists between the two, are, I confess, 
matters beyond my comprehension. But, if it be recollected, that the 
bird which the Count was thus philosophizing upon, was nothing more than 
the female Baltimore Oriole, which exactly corresponds to the descrip- 
tion of his male Bastard Baltimore, the difficulties at once vanish, and 
with them the whole superstructure of theory founded on this mistake. 
Dr. Latham also, while he confesses the great confusion and uncertainty 
that prevail between the true and bastard Baltimore and their females, 
considers it highly probable that tlie whole will be found to belong to 
one and the same species, in their different changes of color. In this 
conjecture, however, the worthy naturalist has likewise been mistaken ; 
and I shall endeavor to point out the fact as well as the source of this 
mistake. 
And here I cannot but take notice of the name which naturalists 
have bestowed on this bird, and which is certainly remarkable. Specific 
names, to be perfect, ought to express some peculiarity, common to no 
other of the genus ; and should, at least, be consistent with truth ; but 
in the case now before us, the name has no one merit of the former, nor 
even that of the latter to recommend it, and ought henceforth to be re- 
jected as highly improper, and calculated, like that of Goatsucker, and 
many others equally ridiculous, to perpetuate that error from which it 
originated. The word bastard amono- men has its determinate meaning : 
ri o o ' 
but when applied to a whole species of birds, perfectly distinct from any 
other, originally deriving their peculiarities of form, manners, color, &c., 
from the common source of all created beings, and perpetuating them, 
by the usual laws of generation, as unmixed and independent as any 
other, is, to call it by no worse a name, a gross absurdity. Should the 
reader be displeased at this, I beg leave to remind him, that as the faith- 
ful historian of our feathered tribes, I must be allowed the liberty of 
vindicating them from every misrepresentation whatever, whether origi- 
nating in ignorance or prejudice ; and of allotting to each respective 
species, as far as I can distinguish, that rank and j^lace in the great 
order of nature, to which it is entitled. 
To convince the foreigner (for Americans have no doubt on the sub- 
ject) that the present is a distinct species from the Baltimore, it might 
be sufficient to refer to the figure of the latter, in Plate I., and to fig. 4, 
Plate IV., of this work. I will however add, that I conclude this bird 
to be specifically different from the Baltimore, from the following cir- 
cumstances : its size — it is less, and more slender ; its colors, which are 
different, and very differently disposed ; the form of its bill, which is 
sharper pointed, and more bent ; the form of its tail, which is not even 
