ay. Size .85 x .60.

505a. ARIZONA HOODED ORIOLE. _Icterus cucullatus nelsoni._

Range.--Western Mexico; in summer north to southern Arizona, New Mexico
and California.

This variety is like the last but more yellowish. Their nests are made
of a wiry grass compactly woven together and partially suspended to
mistletoe twigs growing from cottonwood trees; nests of this type are
perfectly distinct from those of the preceding, but when they are made
of fibre and attached to yuccas, they cannot be distinguished from nests
of the former variety. Their eggs are similar to those of the Hooded
Oriole, but generally more strongly marked and usually with some zigzag
lines. Size .85 x .60.

[Illustration 322: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: Hooded Oriole.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 321

506. ORCHARD ORIOLE. _Icterus spurius._

Range.--United States, east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to
southern New England, and Canada in the interior. Winters beyond our
borders.

The adult male of this species is a rich chocolate brown and black, it
requiring three years to attain this plumage. They nest commonly about
habitations in their range, usually preferring orchard trees for sites.
Their nests are skillfully woven baskets of fresh grasses, about as high
as wide; they are generally placed in upright forks and well concealed
by drooping leaves. They lay from four to six bluish white eggs, spotted
and blotched with brown and lavender. Size .80 x .55. Data.--Avery's
Island, La., May 10, 1896. Nest of grass, lined with thistledown;
semi-pensile in drooping twigs of a willow. Collector, F. A. McIlhenny.

507. BALTIMORE ORIOLE. _Icterus galbula._

Range.--North America, east of the Rockies, breeding from southern
United States north to New Brunswick and Saskatchewan.

This beautiful and well known eastern Oriole can readily be identified
by its orange flame color and entirely black head. Even better known
than the birds, are the pensile nests which retain their positions on
the swaying drooping branches all through the winter. Although they
build in many other trees, elms seem to be their favorites. Their nests
are made of plant fibres and frequently string, and often reach a length
of about 10 inches and about half that in diameter; they are usually
attached to drooping branches by the rim so that they rock to and fro,
but are sometimes held more firmly in positio