The Orchard Oriole ( Icterus sjmrius ) in Western Vermont. — The oc- 
currence of birds beyond their natural or normal habitat is always of in- 
terest, since from a study of these occurrences and their causes many 
facts in regard to geographical distribution are brought out. On June i, 
1883, I had the pleasure of taking two specimens of that rather southern 
species, the Orchard Oriole ( Icterus spurius), at Middlebury, Vermont. 
They were taken on the campus of Middlebury College, and are now in 
the College Museum. They were both males, one being in the perfect 
plumage of the adult, the other in the immature dress of the young bird. 
When shot they were skipping about in the branches of a maple, and a 
diligent search failed to reveal others of the species. So far as I am able 
to ascertain, this is the first record of the occurrence of this species in this 
State.— F. H. Knowlton, National Museum , Washington , D. C. 
Auk, l, Oct., 1884. p. 390 . 
/oS 
