Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-06-21
STUDIES In
NATURAL HISTORY
By JAMES HENRY RICE, Jr.
THE ORCHARD oRlotE.


Order--Passeres: Genus, lcter!IS:
Family, Ictcridue; Species, Spurius.
The specific name, spurius. equiva-
lent to oiir world spurious, is Il PAIRING
misft. unworthy of q place in sciGnti-
fc nomenclature: There is nothing
spurious about this beautiful bird that
gladdens summer with It's presence
1t is d typical summer risitant, for it
arrives in April and departs for the
south in August, there being few re-
cords for September.
May is the laying time and there
arc four or five eggs in the nest llSll-
ally placed at from ten to seventy feet
elevation at the ends of the dropping
limbs. The eggs arc bluish-whlte.
spotted and streaked with. dark brown
and pale lavender markings tWaynel.
Mi. Wayne states that "sanSuill;Lh
is q coast name for this bird in Sonlh
Carolina, the name being found III DR..
Ramsay's history.
Wide Summer Range.
It's summer range is from North
Dakota cast 10 massachusetts. south to
the Gulf and west 10 Texas. theli
again north TO Kansas. II winters from
southern New Mexico to northern
Colombia.
Like the Baltimore Oriole it is 4
famous destroyer OF insects on trees,
ranking high as a conserrator ol Tor
.ests.
Nuttall mentions the fact which ]
have often observed that Orchard Or
oles freuueI Savannahs and meadows
often, feeding there on crickcts and
srasshopers. There arc few savan-
nahs where Orchard Orioles arc want
ing. ,,.
wings and tail black. while the other
parts arc chestnut, deepest on the
breast. The female j. yel!owISh
olive, inclining to blbwn, with the
wings dusky, with two white bands.
TIE female is also smaller IN size.
Young males resemble the female, eX-
cept for chestnut patch under the
chin.
The Orchard Orole has fine song.
Chairman save its voice ia unusually
rich and flexible and he uses il with
rare skill and expression"
Nest Woven With Care.
The nest Is woven with minute
care, often pouched somewhat like
that of the Baltimore Oriole, and lined
inside with the down Of the button
wood, or pickings from the willow.
In n mulberry tree, near my VIM
dow Orchard Orioles are among the
most frequent visitors and today one
disputed ownership Of Il limb with Il
Fox squirrel. who paid scant attention
TO the birds nervous fluttcrings and
quick notes.
Where their, ranges coincide, the
Orchard Oriole gets on famllIar
footing with his handsome cousin, he
Baltimore Oriole and they live togeth-
er in perfect harmony.
This seems to be not Il uniform
habit OF the Baltimore Orinle when
associated with other birds, for Mr.
Forbush records the fact that one OF
his observers saw an Oriolc attack
Ing another in the attempt to get pos
session Of the nest and later, throwing
out the eggs of II Fireo prior TO taking
forcible possession Of the VIr"" $
nest. 49,.
Nuttall says that young Orchard Or
ioles sometimes gather in flocks ol
thirty to forty by themselves. Just he
fore they migrate. Audubon stated
that the Orchard Oriole could he rear
ed easily in cages and fed on rice ana
dry fruits when its ordinary FOOD sup
ply was not available.
Strange enough this beautiful bird
was formerly regarded by the pfon-
ee:s as a prime article Of diet, espe-
cially in August. In this at least, we
have progressed beyond our ancestors
for Il man who would kill such bird
now would be regarded as little Del
ter than 4 bushman.