BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 181 
with the rapidity of the ferruginous thrush, ( turdus 
rufus,) and some other eminent songsters ; but with the 
pleasing tranquillity of a careless ploughboy, whistling 
merely for his own amusement. When alarmed by an 
approach to his nest, or any such circumstance, he makes 
a kind of rapid chirruping, very different from his usual 
note. This, however, is always succeeded by those 
mellow tones which seem so congenial to his nature. 
High on yon poplar, clad in glossiest green, 
The orange, black-capp’d Baltimore is seen ; 
The broad extended boughs still please him best, 
Beneath their bending skirts he hangs his nest ; 
There his sweet mate, secure from every harm, 
Broods o’er her spotted store, and wraps them warm ; 
Lists to the noontide hum of busy bees, 
Her partner’s mellow song, the brook, the breeze ; 
These day by day the lonely hours deceive, 
From dewy morn to slow descending eve. 
Two weeks elapsed, behold ! a helpless crew 
Claim all her care and her affection too ; 
On wings of love the assiduous nurses fly, 
Flowers, leaves, and boughs, abundant food supply ; 
Glad chants their guardian as abroad he goes, 
And waving breezes rock them to repose. . 
The Baltimore inhabits North America, from Canada 
to Mexico, and is even found as far south as Brazil. 
Since the streets of our cities have been planted with 
that beautiful and stately tree, the Lombardy poplar, 
these birds are our constant visitors during the early 
part of summer ; and, amid the noise and tumult of 
coaches, drays, wheelbarrows, and the din of the multi- 
tude, they are heard chanting “ their native wood notes 
wild sometimes, too, within a few yards of an oyster- 
man, who stands bellowing, with the lungs of a Stentor, 
under the shade of the same tree ; so much will habit 
reconcile even birds to the roar of the city, and to sounds 
and noises, that, in other circumstances, would put a 
whole grove of them to flight. 
These birds are several years in receiving their com- 
plete plumage. Sometimes the whole tail of a male 
individual in spring is yellow, sometimes only the two 
