for a. foundation to be credible. The story says that Cal- vert, worn out and discouraged by the various trials and rigours of temperature in his Newfoundland colony, in 1628 visited the Virginia settlement. He explored the waters of the Chesapeake, with its noble tributaries and delicious climate, and found the shores and woods teeming with birds, and among them great flocks of Orioles, who so cheered him by their song and colour that he took them as good omens and adopted their colours for his own. Be this as it may, it is a likely story; for the Oriolo has gone on cheering and charming mankind to this day.
The Oriole comes in full plumage and song in time to sing the praises of the blooming orchards, but if the season is cold and late and the cherries do not yield their mimic snow-storm,—my Lord Baltimore also delays his coming. When these Orioles first arrive the males are in the majority, and they sit in the spruces calling by the hour, with a lonely querulous note.
In a few days the females appear in force, and then the martial music begins, and the birds’ golden trumpeting often turns to a desperate clashing of cymbals when two males engage in combat; for the Oriole has a temper to match his flaming plumage and fights with a will.
The next step is the selection of a nesting-tree. It must be tall with swinging branches to yield when the wind blows, and near enough to civilization to intimidate the
Hawks.
Hush! 'tis hel My Oriole, my glance of summer fire, Is come at last, and ever on the watch, Twitches the pack-thread I had lightly wound About the bough to help his housekeeping, — Twitches and scouts by turns, blessing his luck, Yet fearing me who laid it in his way, Nor, more than wiser we in our affairs, Divines the providence that hides and helps. Heave, hol Heats, ho! he whistles as the twine Slackens its hold ; once more, now! and a flash Lightens across the sunlight to the elm Where his mate dangles at her cup of felt. —LowlLL.
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