THE ORCHARD ORIOLE. 
323 
“The Orchard Oriole, though partly a dependent on the industry of the farmer, is no 
sneaking pilferer, but an open and truly beneficent friend. To all those countless multitudes 
of destructive bugs and caterpillars that infest the fruit-trees in spring and summer, preying 
on the leaves, blossoms, and embryo of the fruit, he is a deadly enemy ; devastating them 
wherever he can find them, and destroying on an average some hundreds of them every day 
without offering the slightest injury to the fruit, however much it may stand in his way. I 
have witnessed instances where the entrance to his nest was more than half closed by a cluster 
of apples, which he could easily have demolished in half a minute ; but, as if holding the 
property of his patron sacred, or considering it a natural bulwark to his own, he slid out and 
in with the greatest gentleness and caution. 
“ I am not sufficiently conversant with entomology to particularize the different species on 
which he feeds, but I have good reason for believing that they are almost altogether such as 
commit the greatest depredations on the fruits of the orchard ; and,' as he visits us at a time 
when his services are of the greatest value, and, like a faithful guardian, takes up his station 
where the enemy is most to be expected, he ought to be held in respectful esteem, and pro- 
tected by every considerate husbandman, Hor is the gaiety of his song one of his least 
recommendations. Being an exceedingly active, sprightly, and restless bird, he is on the 
ground — in the trees — flying and carolling in'his hurried manner, in almost one and the same 
instant. His notes are shrill and lively, but uttered with such rapidity and seeming confusion, 
that the ear is unable to follow them distinctly. Between these he has a single note, which is 
agreeable and interesting. 
“Wherever he is protected, he shows his confidence and gratitude by his numbers and 
familiarity. In the Botanic Gardens of my worthy and scientific friends, the Messrs. Bartrams, 
of Kingsess, which present an epitome of everything that is rare, useful, and beautiful in the 
vegetable kingdom of tins western continent, and where the murderous gun scarce ever 
intrudes, the Orchard Oriole revels without restraint through thickets of aromatic flowers and 
blossoms, and, heedless of the busy gardener that labors below, hangs his nest in perfect 
security on the branches over his head.” 
Audubon, also, has taken great interest in this bird, and has devoted a considerable por- 
tion of his work to the elucidation of its habits. 
“Ho sooner have they reached that portion of the country in which they intend to remain 
during the time of raising their young, than the birds exhibit all the liveliness and vivacity 
belonging to their nature. The male is seen rising in the air from ten to twenty yards in a 
violent manner, jerking his tail and body, flapping his wings, and singing with remarkable 
impetuosity, as if under the influence of haste, and anxious to return to the tree from which 
he has departed. He accordingly descends with the same motions of the body and tail, repeat- 
ing his pleasing song as he alights. 
“These gambols and warblings are performed frequently during the day, the intervals 
being employed in ascending or descending along the branches and twigs of different trees in 
search of insects or larva?. In doing this they rise on their legs, seldom without jetting the 
tail, stretch the neck, seize the prey, and emit a single note, which is sweet and mellow, 
although in power much inferior to that of the Baltimore. At other times it is seen bending 
its body downwards in a curved posture, with the head gently inclined upwards, to peep 
at the outer part of the leaves, so as not to suffer any part to escape its vigilance. It 
soon alights on the ground when it has espied a crawling insect, and again flies towards 
the blossoms, in which are many lurking, and devours hundreds of them each day, thus 
contributing to secure to the farmer the hopes which he has of the productiveness of his 
orchard.” 
One of these birds that was kept in a cage by Wilson proved to be a very interesting 
creature, chanting its wild clear notes at an early age, and accommodating itself to its captivity 
with perfect ease. It had a curious love for artificial light, fluttering about its cage, and 
becoming uneasy at the sight of a lighted candle, and not being satisfied when its cage was 
placed close to the object of attraction. In that case, it would sit close to the side of the cage, 
dress its plumage, and occasionally break into snatches of song. 
