146 Birds Every Child Should Know 
in grayish olive green, more yellowish under- 
neath, that you may scarcely notice her as she 
glides among the trees; but her mate is more 
conspicuous, however quietly dressed in black 
and reddish chestnut — even sombrely dressed 
as compared with his flashy orange and black 
cousin, the Baltimore oriole. Nevertheless, 
it takes him two, or possibly three years to 
attain his fine clothes. By that time his song 
is rich, sweet and strong. 
Do orioles generally take special delight in 
the music of a piano? An orchard oriole who 
used to come close to our house to feed on the 
basket worms dangling from a tamarix bush, 
returned long after the last worm had been 
eaten whenever someone touched the keys. 
And I have known more than one Baltimore 
oriole to fly about the house, joyously singing, 
as if attracted and excited by the music in-doors. 
BALTIMORE ORIOLE 
Called also: Firebird; Golden Robin; Hang-nest; 
Golden Oriole 
A flash of flame among the tender young 
spring foliage ; a rich, high, whistled song from 
the blossoming cherry trees, and every child 
knows that the sociable Baltimore oriole has just 
returned from Central America. Brilliant orange 
