File:Birds and nature (1901) (14725531686).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature9101unse (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds Natural history
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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eAudubons Oriole, Captain Charles Ben-dire says, The nest of this Oriole is us-ually placed in mesquite trees, in thick-ets and open woods, from six to fourteenfeet from the ground. It is a semipensilestructure, woven of fine, wire-like grassused while still green and resembles thoseof the hooded and orchard orioles, whichare much better known. The nest is firm-ly attached, both on the top and sides, to-small branches and growing twigs and,for the size of the bird, it appears rathersmall. One now before me measures threeinches in depth inside by about the samein inner diameter. The rim of the nest issomewhat contracted to prevent the eggsfrom being thrown out during highwinds. The inner lining consists of some-what finer grass tops, which still retainconsiderable strength and are even now,when perfectly dry, difficult to break.Only a single nest of those found wasplaced in a bunch of Spanish moss andthis was suspended within reach of theground ; the others were attached to smalltwigs.
Text Appearing After Image:
UKbAlMA The number of eggs vary from two tofive and sets of one or two eggs of thisOriole, with two or three cowbirds eggs,seem to be most frequently found, someof the first named eggs being thrown outto make room. The eggs are ovate inform and the general color varies fromwhite with a bluish cast to white with agrayish cast and in some instances a pur-ple shade predominates. The markingsvary greatly both in color and form. Theymay be either thread-like, in streaks or inblotches. In color they may be various shades of either brown, purple or laven-der. The food of Audubons Oriole consistsof insects and, to some extent, of berriesand other fruits. Mr. Chark, who studiedthe habits of this species in Texas, saysthat he observed it frequently feeding onthe fruit of the hackberry. He also statesthat these birds were usually in pairs andexhibited a retiring disposition, prefer-ring the thick foliage of the margins ofstreams rather than that of more openand exposed places. Seth Mindwell. TO

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