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THE ORCHARD ORIOLE, OR HANG-NEST. 
/Icterus spurius, Gmel. 
PLATE CCXIX. — Male, Young Male, Female and Nest. 
The plumage of many species of our birds undergoes at times very extra- 
ordinary changes. Some, such as the male Tanagers, which during the 
summer months exhibit the most vivid scarlet and velvet black, assume a 
dingy green before they leave the country, on their way southward. The 
Goldfinch nearly changes to the same colour, after having been seen in a 
gay apparel of yellow and black. The Rice-bird loses its lively brightness 
until the return of spring. Others take several years before they complete 
their plumage, so as to show the true place which they hold amongst the 
other species, as is the case with the Ibis, the Flamingo, and many other 
Waders, as well as with several of our land birds, among which, kind reader, 
the species now under your consideration is probably that in which these 
gradual improvements are most observable by such pei’sons as reside in the 
country inhabited by them. 
The plumage of the young birds of this species, when they leave the nest, 
resembles that of the female parent, although rather less decided in point 
of colouring, and both males and females retain this colour until the approach 
of the following spring, when the former exhibit a portion of black on the 
chin, the females never altering. In birds kept in cages, this portion of 
black remains without farther augmentation for two years ; but in those 
which are at liberty, a curious mixture of dull orange or deep chestnut 
peeps out through a considerable increase of black-coloured feathers over 
the body and wings, intermixed with the yellowish-green hue which the 
bird had when it left the nest. The third spring brings him nearer towards 
perfection, as at that time the deep chestnut colour has taken possession 
of the lower parts, the black has deepened on the upper parts, and over 
the whole head, as well as on the wings and tail-feathers. Yet the garb 
with which it is ultimately to be covered requires another return of spring 
before it is completed, after which it remains as exhibited in the adult male, 
represented in the plate. 
These extraordinary changes are quite sufficient of themselves to lead 
naturalists abroad into error, as they give rise to singular arguments even 
with some persons in America, who maintain that the differences of colour 
