190 
ICTERUS SPURIUS. 
SO judiciously to their particular situations. It’ tb^ 
actions of birds proceeded, as some would have 
believe, from the mere impulses of that thing calk® 
instinct, individuals of the same species would uniformly 
build their nest in the same manner, wherever the/ 
might hajipen to fix it; but it is evident from thos® 
just mentioned, .and a thousand such circumstance* 
that they reason « priori, from cause to consecpience » 
providently managing with a constant eye to futut* 
necessity and convenience. 
The eggs are usually four, of a very pale bluish tim> 
with a few small specks of brown, and spots of dare 
purple. 
The orchard oriole, though partly a dependant on tk 
industry of the farmer, is no sneaking pilferer, hut a 
open, and truly beneficent friend. To all those count' 
less multitudes of destructive bugs and caterpillars thn^ 
infest the fruit trees in spring and summer, preying 
the leaves, blossoms, and embryo of the fruit, he , 
deadly enemy; devouring them wherever he can n" ■ 
them, and destroying, on an average, some hundreds n 
them every day, without oll'ering the slightest injury *j 
the fruit, however much it may stand in his way- ^ 
have witnessed instances where the entrance to his nc* 
was more than half closed up by a cluster of appk'' 
which he could have easily demolished in half a minut®' 
but, as if holding the property of his patron sacred, 
considering it as a natural bulwark to his own, he sUj 
out and in with the greatest gentleness and caution- 
am not sufficiently conversant in entomology to p® 
ticularize the different species of insects on which 
feeds, but I have good reason for believing that th ■■ 
are almost altogether such as commit the greatest dep^^^ 
datious on the fruits of the orchard ; and, as he v‘r ^ 
us at a time when his services .are of the greatest ' j J 
and, like a faithful guardian, takes up his station " * 
the enemy is most to he expected, he ought to be b ^ 
in respectful esteem, and protected by every considem.^ 
husbandman. Nor is the gaiety of his song one ot ^ 
least recommendations. Being an exceedingly 
