BALTIMORE ORIOLE.
each thread in a contrary direction to those arranged by her lordly mate,
and making the whole cross and recross, so as to form an irregular notwork.
Their love increases daily as they see the graceful fabric approaching
perfection, until their conjugal affection and faith become as
complete as in any species of birds with which I am acquainted.
The nest has now been woven from the bottom to the top, and so secured
that no tempest can carry it off without breaking the branch to
which it is suspended. Remark what follows. This nest contains no
warming substance, such as wool, cotton, or cloth, but is almost entirely
composed of the Spanish moss, interwoven in such a manner that the air
can easily pass through it. The parents no doubt are aware of the intense
heat which will exist ere long in this part of the world, and moreover
take especial care to place their nest on the north-east side of the
trees. On the contrary, had they gone as far as Pennsylvania or New
York, they would have formed it of the warmest and softest materials,
and have placed it in a position which would have left it exposed
to the sun's rays, the changes in the weather during the early period
of incubation being sometimes so great there, that the bird looks on these
precautions as necessary to ensure the life of its brood against intense cold,
should it come, while it knows that the heat in these northern latitudes
will not be so great as to incommode them. I have observed these
sensible differences in the formation and position of the nests of the
Baltimore Oriole, a great many times, as no doubt have other persons.
The female lays from four to six eggs, and in Louisiana frequently rears
two broods in a season. The period of incubation is fourteen days. The
eggs are about an inch in length, rather broadly ovate, pale brown,
dotted, spotted, and tortuously lined with dark brown.
The movements of these birds as they run among the branches of trees
differ materially from those of almost all others. They cling frequently
by the feet in order to reach an insect at such a distance from them as to
require the full extension of their neck, body, and legs, without letting
go their hold. They sometimes glide, as it were, along a small twig, and
at other times move sidewise for a few steps. Their motions are elegant
and stately. Their song consists of three or four, or at most eight or ten,
loud, full, and mellow notes, extremely agreeable to the ear.
A day or two before the young are quite able to leave the nest, they
often cling to the outside, and creep in and out of it like young Woodpeckers.
After leaving the nest, they follow the parents for nearly a
BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 69
fortnight, and are fed by them. As soon as the mulberries and figs become
ripe, they resort to these fruits, and are equally fond of sweet cherries,
strawberries, and others. During spring, their principal food is insects,
which they seldom pursue on the wing, but which they search for with great
activity, among the leaves and branches. I have seen the young of the
first brood out early in May, and of the second in July. As soon as they
are fully able to take care of themselves, they generally part from each
other, and leave the country, as their parents had come, that is, singly.
During migration, the flight of the Baltimore Oriole is performed high
above all the trees, and mostly during day, as I have usually observed
them alighting, always singly, about the setting of the sun, uttering a
note or two, and darting into the lower branches to feed, and afterwards
to rest. To assure myself of this mode of travelling by day, I marked
the place where a beautiful male had perched one evening, and on going
to the spot next morning, long before dawn, I had the pleasure of hearing
his first notes as light appeared, and saw him search a while for food, and
afterwards mount in the air, making his way to warmer climes. Their
flight is straight and continuous.
This beautiful bird is easily kept in cages, and may be fed on dried
figs, raisins, hard-boiled eggs, and insects. When shot they will often
clench the twig so firmly as to remain hanging fast to it until dislodged
by another shot or a blow against the twig.
The plumage of the male bird is not mature until the third spring,
and I have therefore in my drawing represented the males of the first,
second, and third years. The female will form the subject of another
plate. The male of the first year was taken for a female by my engraver,
during my absence, and marked as such, although some of the plates were
corrected the moment I saw the mistake.
The Baltimore Oriole, although found throughout the Union, is so partial
to particular sections or districts, that of two places not twenty miles
distant from each other, while none are to be seen in the one, a dozen
pairs or more may be in the neighbourhood of the other. They are fondest
of hilly grounds, refreshed by streams.