40 
THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE, OR HANG-NEST. 
cling to the outside, and creep in and out of it like young Woodpeckers 
After leaving the nest, they follow the parents for nearly a fortnight, and 
are fed by them. As soon as the mulberries and figs become ripe, they 
resort to these fruits, and are equally fond of sweet cherries, strawberries, 
and others. During spring, their principal food is insects, -which they sel- 
dom pursue on the wing, but which they search for with great activity, 
among the leaves and branches. I have seen the young of the first brood 
out early in May, and of the second in July. As soon as they are fully 
able to take care of themselves, they generally part from each other, and 
leave the country, as their parents had come, that is, singly. 
During migration, the flight of the Baltimore Oriole is performed high 
above all the trees, and mostly during day, as I have usually observed them 
alighting, always singly, about the setting of the sun, uttering a note or two, 
and darting into the lower branches to feed, and afterwards to rest. To 
assure myself of this mode of travelling by day, I marked the place where 
a beautiful male had perched one evening, and on going to the spot next 
morning, long before dawn, I had the pleasure of hearing his first notes a^s 
light appeared, and saw him search awhile for food, and afterwards mount 
in the air, making his way to warmer climes. Their flight is straight and 
continuous. 
This beautiful bird is easily kept in cages, and may be fed on dried figs, 
raisins, hard-boiled eggs, and insects. When shot they will often clench 
the twig so firmly as to remain hanging fast to it until dislodged by another 
shot or a blow against the twig. 
The Baltimore Oriole, although found throughout the Union, is so partial 
to particular sections or districts, that of two places not twenty miles dis- 
tant from each other, while none are to be seen in the one, a dozen pairs or 
more may be in the neighbourhood of the other. They are fondest of hilly 
grounds, refreshed by streams. 
According to Dr. Kichardson this species ranges through the central 
districts of the Fur Countries up to the 55th degree of latitude, arriving on 
the Saskatchewan plains on the 10th of May. At this period I saw it breed- 
ing and abundant in the Texas ; but none were observed by me in Labra- 
dor or Newfoundland. I have ascertained to my perfect satisfaction, 
that the males of this elegant species obtain the full beauty of their plumage 
before the first winter after their birth, having seen several individuals 
taken from the nest and reared in aviaries acquire their full plumage by 
the end of September. They feed kindly and breed well in a state of con- 
finement, taking great care of their young. 
In the wild state.I have frequently seen these birds feed on those beautiful 
green coleopterous insects called “ May-bugs,” but they seldom eat them in 
