of various shades of brown. The lines are usually about the crown, as are most of the spots and specks. 
The blotches may be on any part from point to crown. The deep shell-marks are purplish. In long- 
diameter they measure from .72 to .86, in short-diameter, from .56 to .62. The average size is about .58 x .80- 
DIFFERENTIAL POINTS : 
The position and mode of construction of the nests of our two Orioles are the same, but the ma- 
terials are so dissimilar that they can each be recognized at a glance. The eggs also, while having 
many points in common, can generally be readily distinguished. There is with average specimens some 
difference in size, which, together with the tinted shell and large blotches of those of I. spurius, will 
generally suffice for differentiation. 
REMARKS : 
The illustration, Plate XL, represents a nest of the Orchard Oriole taken June 1st, 1881, from an 
apple-tree. It was situated at the extreme of a limb eight feet from the ground. It is an average 
specimen in position, size, shape, and materials. The .eggs show the common sizes and markings. 
The Orchard Oriole is a beautiful and graceful bird, and the male is a fine songster. Several pairs 
of them usually build quite close together, sometimes two nests being in the same tree. During the 
mating and nesting season, the males fly about rapidly from tree to tree and from branch to branch, 
repeating at every stop, and sometimes during flight, the pleasant notes of their song. In early morning 
their voices can be heard above the rest of the feathered tribe with which they associate, few, if any, 
birds of equal size being able to compete with them in roundness and loudness of tone. 
When the young are hatched both parents show great concern for their safety. One of the prettiest ob- 
jects I have ever seen in bird-life was a home containing five young Orioles. I decided to take two of them, 
and as the remaining ones would not stay in the nest, having once jumped from it, I brought it along with me 
and hung it up in my room. At night the little orphans would cuddle into this feather-lined basket and 
sleep quietly until dawn. They soon became vex-y tame, and grew rapidly on pounded beef and hard-boiled 
egg. My sister, Genevieve, now took charge of them, placing them in a large cage with a number of 
other birds. Here they became so gentle and happy that they would fly upon her finger at the door of 
the cage, and wdiile perched upon one hand would catch flies imprisoned in the other. They soon learned 
to eye the hands of every one that approached, and, if a hand happened to be closed, they at once became 
eager to examine it for flies which they supposed it contained. They had a curious habit of inserting 
their closed bills between the fingers, the wares of the cage, or any crack or small opening, and then 
endeavoring to open the mouth as if to enlarge the crevice. This they exhibited when very young, and 
continued to practice as long as observed — nearly three years. 
The first fall after their capture, when the time came for their migration, both birds became rest- 
less and thin, and finally affected with cerebral disease. They refused their accustomed food and w'ould, 
without cause, become suddenly frightened and fly around in the cage, screaming in terror at the top of 
their voices, and, trembling, would fall upon their backs and go through convulsive movements resembling 
an epileptic fit. My sister nursed them carefully, being very fond of them, but one, after some weeks, 
died. The other she kept in a darkened room for several months, having discovered that it would 
remain free from convulsions when excluded from the light. In the spring it seemed to be perfectly 
recovered, and proved to be a male and a fine songster. At the end of the second year the plumage 
was perfected. He became so noisy with his song that he was an annoyance, as no one could sleep in 
his neighborhood after daylight. He was always affectionate and good humored and liked to be played 
with, but would never permit any one to stroke his feathers. Often he would amuse himself for hours by 
tying and untying a piece of string, working and singing at the same time. At length, becoming overrun 
with birds, his liberty was given him, trusting that he might learn to provide for himself. 
140 
