BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 
17 
a bright orange, deepening into vermilion on the breast; the 
black on the shoulders is also divided by a band of orange ; 
exterior edges of the greater wing-coverts, as well as the 
edges of the secondaries, and part of those of the primaries, 
white ; the tail-feathers under the coverts, orange ; the two 
middle ones, from thence to the tips, are black; the next five, 
on each side, black near the coverts, and orange towards the 
extremities, so disposed that, when the tail is expanded, and 
the coverts removed, the black appears in the form of a 
pyramid, supported on an arch of orange. Tail, slightly 
forked, the exterior feather on each side, a quarter of an inch 
shorter than the others ; legs and feet, light blue, or lead 
colour ; iris of the eye, hazel. 
The female has the head, throat, upper part of the neck and 
back, of a dull black, each feather being skirted with olive 
yellow ; lower part of the back, rump, upper tail-coverts, and 
whole lower parts, orange yellow, but much duller than that 
of the male ; the whole wing-feathers are of a deep dirty 
brown, except the quills, which are exteriorly edged, and the 
greater wing-coverts, and next superior row, which are broadly 
tipt with a dull yellowish white ; tail, olive yellow ; in some 
specimens, the two middle feathers have been found partly 
black, in others wholly so ; the black on the throat does not 
descend so far as in the male, is of a lighter tinge, and more 
irregular ; bill, legs, and claws, light blue. * 
* The change of the plumage of this bird, according to age, is beautifully 
represented on one of Mr Audubon’s gigantic plates, together with its favourite 
tulip-tree, and curious pensile nest. According to that gentleman, the male 
does not receive his full plumage until the third spring. In the male of one 
year, the bill is dark brown above, pale blue beneath ; the iris, brown ; feet, light 
blue. The general colour is dull brownish yellow, tinged with olive on the head 
and back ; the wings, blackish brown ; the quills and large coverts margined 
and tipped with white ; the lesser coverts are olivaceous ; the tail, destitute of 
black ; and the under parts paler than in the adult, without any approach to 
the vivid orange tints displayed on it. In that of the second spring, the 
distribution of colour has become the same as in the adult male , but the yellow 
is less vivid ; the upper mandible is brownish black above, and the iris is light 
brown : in the third spring, they receive the rich and brilliant plumage 
described by our author. — E d. 
VOL. I. 
B 
