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Wilson, Alexander, 1766-1813. / American ornithology; or The natural history of the birds of the United States
(1828)
Oriolus baltimorus. Baltimore oriole, pp. [207]-208
Page [207]
ORIOL US BdL TIMOR US.
BALTIMORE ORIOLE.
[Plate LIII. Fig. 4. Female.]
TIiE history of this beautiful species has been already par-
ticularly detailed; to this representation of the female, drawn
of half the size of nature, a few particulars may be added. The
males generally arrive several days before the females, saunter
al)out their wonted places of residence, and seem lonely and
less sprightly than after the arrival of their mates. In the spring
and summer of 1811, a Baltimore took up its abode in Mr.
Bartram's garden, whose notes were so singular as particularly
to attract my attention; they were as well known to me as the
voice of my most intimate friend. On the thirtieth of April,
1812, I was again surprised and pleased at hearing this same
Baltimore in the garden, whistling his identical old chant; and
I observed that he particularly frequented that quarter of the
garden where the tree stood, on the pendent branches of which
he had formed his nest the preceding year. This nest had been
taken possession of by the House Wren, a few days after the
Baltimore's brood had abandoned it; and curious to know how
the little intruder had furnished it within, I had taken it down
early in the fall, after the Wren herself had also raised a brood
of six young in it, and which was her second that season. 1
found it stript of its original lining, floored with sticks, or small
twigs, above which were laid feathers; so that the usual com-
plete nest of the Wren occupied the interior of that of the Bal-
timore.
The chief difference between the male and female Baltimore
Oriole, is the superior brightness of the orange colour of the for-
mer to that of the latter. The black on the head, upper part of
Based on date of publication, this material is presumed to be in the public domain.| For information on re-use, see http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Copyright




