. The American natural history : a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America . Natural history. BLACKBIRDS, LARKS AND ORIOLES 201 gions. Throughout the year, insects make up 73 per cent of its food, grain, 5 per cent, and weed-seeds, 12 per cent. During the insect sea- son, insects constitute over 90 per cent of this bird's food supply. As a destroyer of insects and weeds, this bird is entitled to the most per- fect protection that laws and public sentiment combined can afford. In Montana, the Western Meadow-Lark ' quite wearied me by the tiresome iteration, day aft
. The American natural history : a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America . Natural history. BLACKBIRDS, LARKS AND ORIOLES 201 gions. Throughout the year, insects make up 73 per cent of its food, grain, 5 per cent, and weed-seeds, 12 per cent. During the insect sea- son, insects constitute over 90 per cent of this bird's food supply. As a destroyer of insects and weeds, this bird is entitled to the most per- fect protection that laws and public sentiment combined can afford. In Montana, the Western Meadow-Lark ' quite wearied me by the tiresome iteration, day after day, of its one short, seven-word song. This was it: $ As our "outfit" pulled over the smoothly shaven Missouri-Yellowstone divide, in the month of May, I think we heard that song re- peated a thousand times, or less; and when the wind blew hard for five long days without in- termission, even that cheerful welcome at last became irritating. The eastern Meadow-Lark inhabits the east- ern half of the United States, and the western species begins at the western edge of Iowa and Missouri; but neither of them belongs to the Lark Family ! The Baltimore Oriole,2 or Hang-Nest, has beautiful plumage of orange and black, a very pleasing song, good habits, and therefore is one of our feathered favorites. Either wdien perch- ing or on the wing, it is a very graceful bird. It is the most skilful builder in North America, and constructs a strong and durable hanging nest which is a marvel of intelligent and skilful effort. The Oriole does not believe in having boys make collections of Oriole eggs. The out- ermost branches of a very tall and very drooping elm are particularly suited to its views of an ideal building site. The nest of this Oriole is bound to create in the mind of any one who examines it attentively a high degree of admiration for the mental ca- pacity of its builder. Its superstructure is com- posed very largely of long, spring-like horse- hairs, so tightly woven t
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