The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-08-19
0ur 0liu.
The Baltimore 0role.

Cecllius calvert, second Baron oil BAL
more, has hold upon the recollections
Of mankind far surprising that secured by
my monument in the noble city which he
6nnded, in the fact that the most charm
ing bird that makes It's summer home in
he parks Of that city bears his name.
That bird is the Baltimore oriole--icteriS
buhimore of Linneus. Its plumage is
patterned in orange and black, the baronial
eolors of the noble lords livery, and
Linneus only paid an appropriate compli-
nent to the source to which he owed his
apecimCn of the now species when, in
I766, he recognized the coincidence 10 the
name.
Then as now.the orioles were among the
most beautiful and conspicuous Of wood
lnnd birds. From their winter retreat
under the tropics they return northward
- tho warm weather advances, arriving in
Naryland during the latter part of April,
and reaching Central New England by
lhe middle of May. In these migrations,
pesformed mostly by day, they fly contin-
uously and in a straight line high over
had. About sunset they halt, and ut.
tering u few low notes, dive into the
}hlckets to feed, and afterward to rest.
They do not go in aocks, but singly, or
iVo or three together. The males come
- rs in advance, and instantly announce
their presence by loud and joyous song,
b DE execution of which they continually
erlnlate one another during the week or
more that elapses before the arrival of the
ic1nales. But this emulation does not end
xi(h vying in song they have many
r|kched battles, chasing each other from
lfoe to tree and through the branches with
1nfry notes. The coming of the females
ofcFs some diversion to these pugnacious
cnmliers, or at least furnishes new casas
teIIi; for, while they devote themselves
wilh great ardor to wooing and winning
their coy mistresses, their Jealousy is easily
eroused, aud their fighting is often resum-
ed. Even the lady-lovers sometimes for
get themselves SO far as to sayagely attack
their fancied rivals, or drive out of sight
lhe chosen mate Of some male bird whom
lhey want for themselves. This is not all
hney, but lamentable fact.
Hademoiselle 0riole is not so snowy as
her gay beau. Persuade the pair to keep
quiet moment, and compare them.
Ihey are in size between bluebird and a
robin, but rather more slender than either.
The plumage of the male is of rich but
varying orange upon all the lower parts,
I|nderneath the wings, upon the lower part
of he back, and the outer edges Of the
(aI| the throat, head, neck, the part be-
t9oon the shoulders, wing quilts, and mid
d|o hil-feathcrs are velvety black the
h||I Ind feet are blush; there is white
fins around the ego, and the lesser wing
1uil|s are edged with white In the fe-
nlAie the pattern Of color is the same, but
<ho siots are dullcr. The jet Of the males
head and neck is rusty in his mate, and
e.oIl feather is margined with olive. The
Qrange part of the plumage is more like
yellow in the female, and wing and tail
qo|||s are spotted and dirty. Three years
oro required for the orioles to receive
lhelr complete plumage, the gradual change
Of ehich is beautifully represented in one
of Aadubon's gigantic plates. Sometimes
ne hole tail of Cyoung] male individual
II apring is yellow, sometimes only the two
middle feathers are black, and frequently
(Ae Hack on the back is skirted with
pfaase, and the tail tipped with the same
eulorN Much confusion arose among the
<afIlaf naturalists from this circumstance.
I|e singing of the males is at its height
nox liat the females have come, and they
sso p be heard, not only from field and
e1ase and country wayside, but ia the
sIfeeisof villages, aud even in the parks
ol eliis, where they are recognized by
EVERY school-boy, who calls them fire-birds
so|deu-robins, hang-nests, and Baltimore
plfdv The lindened avenues Of Philadel
r6h, The elm-embowered precincts, oI
NfH Haven, the sacred trees Of Boston
|oH|apn, the classic shades Of Harvard
<1&@fe. and the malls Of Central Park al
es61 % their springtimo music. ERNEST
y <a1asoLL, in Hdrper's Magazine .to'