BALTIMORE ORIOLE, OR GOLDEN ROBIN. 163 
That our Oriole is not familiar with us, independent of 
the all powerful natural impulse which he obeys, is suf- 
ficiently obvious when he nests in the woods. Two of 
these solitary and retiring pairs had this summer, contrary 
to their usual habits, taken up their abode in the lofty 
branches of a gigantic Button-wood in the forest. As 
soon as we appeared, they took the alarm, and remained 
uneasy and irritable until we were wholly out of sight. 
Others, again, visit the heart of the populous city, and 
pour forth their wild and plaintive songs from the trees 
which decorate the streets and gardens, amid the din of 
the passing crowd, and the tumult of incessant and 
noisy occupations. Audubon remarks, that their migra- 
tions are performed singly, and during the day, and that 
they proceed high, and fly straight and continuous. 
The food of the Baltimore appears to be small caterpil- 
lars, sometimes those of the apple-trees, some uncommon 
kinds of beetles, cimices, and small flies, like a species 
of cynips. Occasionally I have seen an individual collect- 
ing Cicindeli by the sides of sandy and gravelly roads. 
They feed their young usually with soft caterpillars, which 
they swallow, and disgorge on arriving at the nest; and 
in this necessary toil both sexes assiduously unite. They 
seldom molest any of the fruits of our gardens, except a 
few cherries and mulberries, and are the most harmless, 
useful, beautiful, and common birds of the country. 
They are, however, accused of sometimes accompanying 
their young to the garden peas, which they devour 
while small and green, and, being now partly gregarious, 
the damage they commit is at times rendered visible. 
Occasionally they are seen in cages, being chiefly fed 
on soaked bread, or meal and water ; they appear also 
fond of cherries, strawberries, currants, raisins, and figs, 
so that we may justly consider them, like the Cassicans 
