ORIOLE. Icterus. There are two species, the garden oriole, I. spurius, and the Baltimore oriole, I. Baltimore. The first named is of a bright chestnut color, the head, neck, back, wings and tail black, bill and legs bluish-black. Mat ure birds, or after the third year, mottled on the upper parts of back with black and olive; on belly, sides, and breast reddish-gray begins to 'appear, blended with yellow; generally the two middle tail feathers are black, the others cen tered with black. The female and young of one year are olive yellow, inclining to brown, yellow beneath; wings and tail, dusky brown. The orchard oriole eats berries and small fruits to some extent during their season, but they are so largely insectivorous that they should be har bored rather than destroyed. It also eats largely of seeds. In confinement individuals often retain their summer plumage during the winter. They are alert and industrious in the pursuit of insects. The eggs are from four to six in num ber, bluish-white, sprinkled with brown. The nest is curiously interwoven of grass, and is sup ported by the sides only. The Baltimore oriole,
also called golden robin or hanging bird, is one of the most beautiful of our summer visitors.
Brilliant in its color, black and orange, cheerful in its song, an indefatigable hunter after insects, flitting here and there it should be carefully pre served wherever found. It is much rarer in the North than its relative the orchard oriole, and hence more highly prized. It has the name of hangbird from the peculiar pendant neat which it forms, in the South of the long hanging moss, and in the North of cotton threads or any long, soft filament which it may find. It loves the habitation of man, and is generally found 'near dwellings, and from the fact that it is seldom disturbed, often becomes tame and fearless of marlAnother, Bullock's oriole, is fciund on the Pacific coast ranging from California to the Columbia river in,Oregon; it is quite similar in appearance and habits to the Baltimore oriole.