meadows, and with the Snowflakes in the inland fields, from which he announces “Spring o’ the Year” with his penetrating voice, almost before that coy season has awaked and warmed her fingers in the sun’s grudging rays.
Orchard Oriole: Icterus spurius.
- Length:
- 7 inches.
- Male:
- Black bead, chin, neck, throat, tail, and part of wings. Breast, belly, rump, and shoulders chestnut-brown. White wing bar, and some feathers edged with black and chestnut. Round black tail edged with lighter. Bill and feet bluish black.
- Female:
- Upper parts brown, wings with pale buff edges and shoulder bars. Throat black, rump and edges of some tail feathers olive-green. Under parts olive-yellow.
- Song:
- Resembling that of the Baltimore Oriole, but less shrill.
- Season:
- Summer resident; May to September.
- Breeds:
- Throughout United States range.
- Nest:
- A round basket-like structure, notable for its even weaving. It may be pensile or only partly so, and is usually placed in I fruit tree at 9. moderate height.
- Eggs:
- 4, cloudy white, spotted with blackish brown.
- Range:
- United States, west to the Plains; south, in winter, to Panama.
The Orchard Oriole is less known in New England than the Baltimore Oriole, not only because of its duller colouring but because its range is more southerly, and though it goes all through the Eastern States it is not plentiful north of Massachusetts.
I can always rely upon seeing a few pairs about the garden in May, when the early apples are in bloom; for though these Orioles are chiefly insect-eaters, they will sometimes help themselves to the fruit blossoms, and later on to an occasional meal from the raspberry vines or the strawberry bed. These depredations, however, are trifling in comparison to the good they do in destroying plant-lice, beetles, rose-slugs, and cabbage-worms.
As singers their notes are more harsh and rapidly uttered than those of the other species, and are not particularly
171
