THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE.-THE SCARLET TANAGER. 
23 
have been separate; the males arrive several days before the females, not in 
flocks, but singly. At this time they fill the air with their notes, which, 
however, are shrill and plaintive, as if their joy was incomplete. Soon their 
partners arrive, and after many battles between the lovers, the pairing is 
completed, and amid frolic and song the nest is begun. This is usually the 
period when the apple-orchards are in bloom, and nothing can afford a pic¬ 
ture of more enchanting and vivid beauty than these brilliant birds, in the 
midst of perfume and showering blossoms, sporting, singing, and rollicking— 
nay, sipping the honey and feasting on the insects, as if these bowers were 
all their own. At this time the notes of the male are often a low whistle, or 
now and then a full trumpet tone, one following the other in slow or rapid 
succession; even the female sings, though with less melody. Many of the 
notes of both are colloquial, and it is not difficult for a listener to fancy he 
hears questions and answers between the lively couple, with occasional side 
observations in various keys, indicative of approbation or reproach, admiration 
or contempt. If a dog or cat chances to approach the neighborhood of the 
nest, a volley of abuse, in a sharp rapid tone, is sure to be poured out upon 
the intruder.” The nest of the oriole is a pendulous cylindric pouch, of five 
to seven inches in depth, usually suspended from near the extremities of the 
high drooping branches of trees, such as the elm, the pear, or apple-tree, 
wild cherry, weeping-willow, tulip-tree or buttonwood. The food of this 
little pet consists chiefly of flies, beetles, worms, and caterpillars. When 
domesticated it can be kept on meal and water with occasionally a piece of 
sweet fruit. The oriole is easily tamed, and is docile and playful in confine¬ 
ment. It has a turn for mimicry, and can be taught to imitate the notes of 
other birds. 
THE SCARLET TANAGER. 
The scarlet tanager is one of our most brilliant birds, and is better known 
to the woodsman than the frequenter of fields or parks. It arrives among 
