ORCHARD ORIOLE. 
145 
Young female. Similar to the adult but much paler, especially on the back. The wings are lighter and have more 
white on them. 
Nestlings. Quite like the adult female but very pale-yellow throughout, but are a little darker above. Wings and tail, 
as in the above for they are not moulted. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
There is but little variation in plumage among birds of the same age and sex from the same locality, so that they may 
readily be distinguished by the colors as described. Distributed in summer throughout the Eastern Section of the United 
States, south of Massachusetts. Winters south of the United States. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of twenty specimens. Length, 6*62; stretch, 9'50; wing, 3*00; tail, 3* 10; bill'65; tarsus, ’70. 
Longest specimen, 7 - 25; greatest extent of wing, 10*00; longest wing, 3*25; tail, 3*25; bill, *90; tarsus *75. Shortest speci¬ 
men, 6*00; smallest extent of wing, 9*25; shortest wing, 2*75; tail, 3*00; bill, *60; tarsus, *65. 
# DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed in trees, not very pendulous in form, composed of fine, tough grass firmly woven together. Dimensions; 
external diameter, 4*00, internal, 2*00. External depth, 2*50, internal, 1*50. 
Eggs, four to six in number, oval in form, pale-blue in color, spotted, dotted, and sometimes lined, with umber and 
lilac. Dimensions from *80 x *60 to *85x *65. 
HABITS. 
The city of Wilmington, North Carolina, is pleasantly situated on a high bluff which 
overlooks Cape Fear River. Like many of the Southern cities, the streets are well shaded 
with live oaks and other trees which as a natural result attract many birds. On visiting 
this place, May 25, 1872, I found that the foliage was swarming with various species of 
the feathered tribe, but none were more prominent than the Orchard Orioles. This was 
partly due to their abundance but they rendered themselves noticeable by the loud, clear 
whistle which sounded out in all directions. This song, although similar to that of the 
Baltimore Oriole, is in many respects not as varied but is, notwithstanding, very fine. 
The Orchard Orioles were about to breed in Wilmington, and I saw the females carrying 
material for their nests. This is seemingly quite late to begin laying so far south; indeed 
. I found them with eggs at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, about the same date, and have seen 
a nest full of eggs in Massachusetts as early as June. 
This Oriole differs somewhat in habits from the Baltimore inasmuch as it nearly al¬ 
ways places its nest on an apple or other low tree, in the fork of a limb and not suspended 
from it. They have the very restless movements which characterize this genus. One may 
be seen clinging to the lowest branches of a tree, then with the rapidity of thought will 
bound upwards, and swing from the topmost bough where he remains only for a moment, 
however, as suddenly catching sight of a passing female, he darts off in pursuit followed by 
one or two others, for like the Baltimore, the males are rather promiscuous in their atten¬ 
tions. On account of their preferring low trees as homes, they frequent the neighborhood 
of houses in Pennsylvania, nesting in the fruit trees, and are seldom seen on the river in 
company with the Baltimore Oriole. Nor did I ever see the two .species associating to¬ 
gether anywhere. 
The young make their appearance in the trees about the middle of July but they 
migrate very soon, as I did not find them at all during the last week of August. 
BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 
19 
