92 
SINGING BIRDS. 
appear to afford them no kind of nutrition, and at all times 
they will thrive better if indulged with a little animal food or 
insects, as well as hard-boiled eggs. 
The summer range of this beautiful bird in the fur countries 
extends to the 5Sth degree of latitude, arriving on the plains 
of the Saskatchewan, according to Richardson, about the loth 
of May, or nearly as early as their arrival in Massachusetts. 
Those which thus visit the wilds of Canada in all probability 
proceed at once from Mexico, or ascend the great valley of 
the Mississippi and Missouri. 
I have had a male bird in a state of domestication raised from 
the nest very readily on fresh minced meat soaked in milk. 
When established, his principal food was scalded Indian corn- 
meal, on which he fed contentedly, but was also fond of sweet 
cakes, insects of all descriptions, and nearly every kind of fruit. 
In short, he ate everything he would in a state of nature, and 
did not refuse to taste and eat of everything but the condi- 
ments which enter into the multiflirious diet of the human 
species : he was literally omnivorous. 
No bird could become more tame, allowing himself to be 
handled with patient indifference, and sometimes with play- 
fulness. The singular mechanical application of his bill was 
remarkable, and explains at once the ingenious art employed 
by the species in weaving their nest. If the folded hand was 
presented to our familiar Oriole, he endeavored to open it by 
inserting his pointed and straight bill betwi.xt the closed fingers, 
and then by pressing open the bill with great muscular force, 
in the manner of an opening pair of compasses, he contrived, 
if the force was not great, to open the hand and examine its 
contents. If brought to the face he did the same with the 
mouth, and would try hard to open the closed teeth. In this 
way, by pressing open any yielding interstice, he could readily 
insert the threads of his nest, and pass them through an infinity 
of openings, so as to form the ingenious net- work or basis of his 
suspensory and procreant cradle. 
This is a familiar bird throughout the greater part of this faunal 
province north to the southern portions of Ontario and Quebec, 
