Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-06-11
THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE.


Some Interesting Facts About the
''Golden Bird of Silver Song"
FIR. Rathbone In Auburn IN. " Advertiser
The Baltimore oriole, in his brilliant
coat of orange, vermlllOn and black,
gifted with a remarkably clear, loud
and liquid song, is an industrious, we'll
behaved and welcome exponent of sun
ny, perspective hours. Coming to us
in May from Mexico and Central Amer
lea, he is hailed and known variously
as the Chang Nest" Fire bird" and
" Golden Robin" His pendulous nest
from which he derives one of these APP
pellations, is well-known fabric, and
is usually seen suspended from the
swaying terminal wings of the graceful
elm, high in the air and far from dan
ger. 1t is sometimes hung in the will
low and maple trees, and is no uncom-
streets in our large cities.
AS an industrious mechanic and skill
full engineer, this bird displays remark
able ingenuity in the fabrication and
placement of its home, and makes avail
able almost every kind of material in it's
building The stripping of fine bark,
shreds.of milkweed stems, the thistles.
down of the preceding year, twine,
thread, horse hairs and yarn, all enter
ingeniously into its composition and
are woven and interlaced with nicely
and ingenuity that would shame the fin
gers of modern Penelope. The whole
structure is of pensile or purse-like
form, and is suspended from two or
three contingent aerial and dropping
twigs, by as many firm guys or supports
of Irvine. Narrow at the orifice, the
nest gradually enlarges toward the bot
tom, and is comfortably and cozily lined
with down, fine grasses, withered floss
and hair Here, during the weary
hours of incubation, in storm and SUM-
shine, cheered and fed by her brilliant
hued lover, my lady swings in her aerial
hammock and silently but lovingly
broods over from four to six ovoid
pledges of love, of BLUSH white, bear
ing dark spots and lines.
The oriole is a valuable scavenger Of
insects, amphides, ETC., and have often
watched with interest his searchings
about the pickets, rails Of fences and
| the interstices of bark for small cocOons
larvae and spiders, Of which latter it
seems particularly fond, regardless of
position, and often poised on futtering
wing, his sharp and black, needlepoint-
ed bill makes quick work with these
pests.
Early in August he seeks the UNI
brageous GOODNESS of the woods, and
from that time little is seen of him un-
til the succeeding season. On the wing
this bird is pleasant, easy and graceful;
his flight being at times quite swift and
straight, and his greeting chatter when
| he alights is always sure to make his
presence known. He may frequently
be seen climbing about and around the
trunks of trees after the manner Of the
titmice, exhibiting much acrobatic skill
in his various attitudes.
The common name of this bird IS
said to be derived from the colors of
the Lords Baltimore not from the city
of that name. which were orange and
black, the same as his own. He ranges
through the whole Of the United States
east of the Rocky Mountains, and breeds
chiefly towards the northern portion Of
his range, although he is very generally
dispersed during the summer over the
area named.
Would the reader have IA emento of
the joys that we'll up in his heart at the
approach of sunny days and this golden
bird. Let him charitably dispose vari-
ously- colored worsteds of yarns wher-
ever he may see this bird in search of
building-material, and carefully note
the place where the subtle architect IS
rearing his structure. There will be no
need to disturb the nest until it has
served its purpose; then, some daring
boy, furnished with a long rod and hook
attached thereto, will quickly secure for
him a curiosity that will grace cher
ished place IN his den, and wildly recall
the silver note, the golden bird and the
first sunny hours Of the season which
have vanished forever.