Identifier: birdsofnewenglan00samu (find matches)
Title: The birds of New England and adjacent states : containing descriptions of the birds of New England, and adjoining states and provinces, arranged by a long-approved classification and nomenclature ... with illustrations of many species of the birds, accurate figures of their nests and eggs
Year: 1875 (1870s)
Authors: Samuels, Edward Augustus, 1836-1908
Subjects: Birds -- New England Birds -- Nests
Publisher: Boston : Noyes, Holmes, and company
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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nd third quills are longest; the first intermediate betweenthe fourth and fifth. The tail is rather long; the feathers moderately graduated, thegreatest difference in length amounting to half an inch. The black of the throat extends backwards as far as the bend of the wing, andends as an obtuse angle. The tail feathers are entirely black, with dull whitish tipswhen not fully mature. Specimens are found in all stages between the characters given above. Whennearly mature, some yellowish feathers are found mixed in with the chestnut ones. Length of specimens, seven and twenty-five one-hundredths inches; wing, threeand twenty-five one-hundredths inches. This bird is rather rare in New England, and is confinedto the southern districts as a summer visitor. It arrivesabout the second week in May, and commences buildingabout the first week in June. The nest is usually placed ina forked branch of a tree in the orchard, seldom more thantwenty feet from the ground. It is constructed of different
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Okchai!I> Oukh.ic. Icterus s/iiirins. Bonaparte. THE ORCHARD ORIOLE. 347 grasses, which are woven together very neatly and com-pactly : the whole is lined with fine grass, and sometimes afew horsehairs. It is not pensile, but is built on the branchThe eggs are four or five in number : their color varies froma light-blue to a fleshy tint, which is marked with irregu-lar spots and lines of obscure lavender, over which are boldspots and blotches of black and brown. The dimensionsvary from .86 to .56 by .54 inch. But one brood is rearedin the season. Nuttall, in describing the habits of this species, says, — The Orchard Oriole is an exceedingly active, sprightly, andrestless bird: in the same instant almost, he is on the ground aftersome fallen insect; fluttering amidst the foliage of the trees, pryingand springing after his lurking prey ; or flying, and tuning his livelynotes in a manner so hurried, rapid, and seemingly confused, thatthe ear is scarce able to thread out the shrill a

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