THE ORCHARD ORIOLE, OR HANG-NEST. 
47 
are indicative of different species. But, since the habits of these birds under 
all these singular changes of plumage are ascertained to be precisely the 
same, the argument no longer holds good. I shall now endeavour to 
describe these habits with all the accuracy supplied by long observation. 
The migration of the Orchard Oriole from south to north is performed by 
day, and singly, as is that of its relative the Baltimore Oriole, the males 
appearing a week or ten days sooner than the females. Their flight is lower 
than that of the Baltimore, and considerably shorter in its continuance, the 
Orchard Oriole alighting more frequently on the tops of the trees, to rest or 
to feed. They exhibit a greater repetition of motions of the wings, although 
sliding through the air for a few yards only at a time, and whilst about to 
alight, as well as afterwards, perform strong and well marked jettings of the 
tail. This the Baltimore seldom does. No sooner have they reached the 
portion of the country in which they intend to remain during the time of 
raising their young, than these birds exhibit all the liveliness and vivacity 
belonging to their nature. The male is seen rising in the air for ten or 
twenty yards in an indirect manner, jerking his tail and body, flapping his 
wings, and singing with remarkable impetuosity, as if under the influence of 
haste, and anxious to return to the tree from which he has departed. He 
accordingly descends with the same motions of the body and tail, repeating 
his pleasant song as he alights. These gambols and carollings are performed 
frequently during the day, the intervals being employed in ascending or 
decending along the branches and twigs of different trees, in search of 
insects or larvae. In doing this, they rise on their legs, seldom without 
jetting the tail, stretch their neck, seize the prey, and emit a single note, 
which is sweet and mellow, although in power much inferior to that of the 
Baltimore. At other times, it is seen bending its body downwards, in a 
curved posture, with the head greatly inclined upwards, to peep at the under 
parts of the leaves, so as not to suffer any grub to escape its vigilance. It 
now alights on the ground, where it has espied a crawling insect, and again 
flies towards the blossoms, in which many are lurking, and devours hundreds 
of them each day, thus contributing to secure to the farmer the hopes which 
he has of the productiveness of his orchard. 
The andval of the females is marked with all due regard, and the males 
immediately use every effort in their power to procure from them a return of 
attention. Their singings and tricks are performed with redoubled ardour, 
until they are paired, when nidification is attended to with the utmost 
activity. They resort to the meadows, or search along the fences for the 
finest, longest, and toughest grasses they can find, and having previously 
fixed on a spot either on an apple tree , or amidst the drooping branches of 
the weeping willow , they begin by attaching the grass firmly and neatly to 
