--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Parratt, Delbert W. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 20 number: 2 published: 1916-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Delbert W. Parratt, "Outlines for Scout Workers. XV," *Improvement Era* 20, no. 2 (December 1916): 142–146.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2002unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2002unse start_page: 142 end_page: 146 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1916-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2002unse publication_year: 1916 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1916, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Outlines for Scout Workers. XV — Outlines for Scout Workers By Delbert W. Parratt, B. S. XV. The Bullock's Oriole Hush! 'tis he! My oriole, my glance of summer fire.— Lowell. "High on yon poplar, clad in glossiest green, The orange, black-capped oriole is seen; The broad extended boughs still please him best Beneath their bending skirts he hides his nest; There his sweetmate, secure from every harm, Broods o'er her spotted store, and wraps them warm; Lists to the noontide hum of busy bees, Her partner's mellow song, the brook, the breeze; Thus day by day the lonely hours deceive, From dewey morn to slow descending eve." 1. To what bird family does the oriole belong? Name some of its near relatives. 2. What are some other names for the oriole? Suggest a reason for each. 3. How many kinds of orioles are there in North America, and where does each live? 4. Where is the oriole's winter home? How long does it remain in itssummer home? Which returns first in the spring, male or female? What other bird do you know that does the same? 5. Describe the western or Bullock's oriole. Distinguish the female from the male. — OUTLINES FOR SCOUT WORKERS 143 6. In what sort of places do they prefer to live? Why? 7. Of what is their diet composed? What is their worst trait? 8. What sort of nests do they build? Of what and where do they build them? 9. Describe the eggs. How many in a setting? How are they protected? What is the most dangerous period in the bird's life? 10. Is the oriole a song bird? What is the characteristic note of the starling family? 11. Give two reasons why the oriole should be protected. Handy Material "Rains beat! Winds blow! Safe the nest in the elm tree. Days come! Nights go! Birds at rest in the elm tree. To-and-fro, to-and-fro, Safe are we from every foe Orioles in the elm tree. Cats come! Cats go! Lullaby in the elm tree!" The various kinds of orioles belong to the starling family and are, therefore, closely related to the cowbirds, meadowlarks, bobolinks, and blackbirds. Of the seven species found in North America the Baltimore, the orchard, the Arizona hooded, and the Bullocks are most common. The Baltimore frequents the eastern part of the United States and comes as far west as Colorado. Its showy colors were like those used by Lord Baltimore on his coat of arms and in consequence the bird became known a* the Baltimore oriole. The orchard oriole, a plain black and chestnut bird, also makes its abode in the eastern part of our country, while the Arizona hooded is found almost exclusively in California. The Bullock's oriole breeds throughout our western region from South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas, to the Pacific coast and is, therefore, the one with which we are best acquainted. This particular bird spends its winter time in the hills and valleys of Mexico and remains with us only during the four or five warmest months of the year. Like the bluebird, the male oriole comes north in advance of the female and spends a few anxious days getting things ready for his prospective bride. It is then that the male is groomed in his fresh spring colors. His underparts are a brilliant orange and his neck, back, tail, and wings a beautiful black. The somberness of wings is enlivened with patches of cheery white and that of his tail with edsjes of light yellow. A black four-in-hand tie extends from chin down over his showy vellow breast and a neat black cap adorns his comely head. This tie and cap together with his orange cheeks are the marks that distinguish the Bullock's from all other orioles. He is among our most attractive birds. His 144 IMPROVEMENT ERA showy, warm colors have given him the suggestive name of Fire Bird and also that of Golden Robin. As a songster, our gay-colored friend takes high rating. Like most other birds of his sex, he sings his best during mating season. Then his song is a strong, clear, melodious whistle of the sort calculated to win the admiration of some coveted female. This, of course, is sung only on special occasions. Ordinarily his song is a semi-boisterous, wren-like chatter, said to be common with all the different orioles. Since to the female oriole falls the lot of choosing her mate, she has no need to advertise with showy colors and winning song. In consequence, she dresses in a modest, greenish olive and yellow gown and converses in a quiet but rather complaining tone. "Of all the weavers, that I know, The oriole is the best; High on the branches of the tree She hangs her cozy nest." The tree chosen for this purpose is nearly always sound and vigorous and the particular branch, high up, is well covered with leaves, and not likely to be broken by disturbing winds. All orioles build deep-hanging or pensile nests, however, some are deeper than others. The deeper are called hammock nests and usually swing from swaying twigs; those not so deep are known as basket nests and as a rule are constructed in the forks of small limbs. The bird under consideration is one of the basket builders. Its nest, made of flexible grass, vegetable fibers, bits of thread, and horse hair, is secured far out toward the end of a limb, quite bevond the reach of cats, boys, and other troublesome creatures. Wind, of course, sways the deep nest but the eggs seldom, if ever, lose out. A most dangerous time in the oriole's life is when it is a nestling; for then, in attempting to fly, it often falls from its lofty nest and, in consequence, is killed or else so badly maimed that its parents are unable to restore it to the hanging home. The eggs, from three to six in number, are grayish, bluishwhite, or pale buff marked with irregular, dainty, hair-like lines. Our oriole spends much of his time in orchards and gardens. He is often found in parks and cemeteries and also in cottonwood groves near the mouths of our canyons. His long, pointed bill is well suited to picking tiny insects from secluded places in bark and blossoms. In fact, he is among the most useful birds we have. Harmful beetles form about thirty-five per cent of his diet and ants and wasps some fifteen per cent. Moths, scales, caterpillars and the like also contribute largely toward his meals. — OUTLINES FOR SCOUT WORKERS 145 "Eating small fruit, especially cherries, is the bird's only fault and he will do no harm in this regard unless other food is scarce or else the orioles are very numerous. In our own state the good he does so far overshadows the harm that it seems penurious to even mention the latter. "They both were artists, gathering hair and hay, And built their hidden cot with twittering joy, When orchards smiled with blossoms through the day, And brooklets sang with gladness but were coy. "The eggs were tempting in the cherished nest, Which hung and swayed secure from bending limbs; When soon the birdlings came with orange breast, And listening morn was charmed by wooland hymns. "With bits of tune, and gold of fluttering plume, And angry bills, they flew in search of food, When sleeping fields awoke in vernal bloom, And welcomed there the richly painted brood. "They added beauty, grace, and song to earth, Beneath the amorous love of kissing skies, When roses, wafting their perfume, found birth, And all the world became a paradise." J. Hazard Hartzell. The Nest^May "When oaken woods with buds are pink, And new-come birds each morning sing; When fickle May on Summer's brink Pauses, and knows not which to fling, Whether fresh bud and bloom again, Or hoar-frost silvering hill and plain, "Then from the honeysuckle gray The oriole with experienced quest Twitches the fibrous bark away, The cordage of his hammock-nest, Cheering his labor and with a note Rich as the orange of his throat. "High o'er the loud and dusty road The soft gray cup in safety swings, To brim ere August with its load Of downy breasts and throbbing wings, O'er which the friendly elm-tree heaves An emerald roof with sculptured eaves. "Below, the noisy World drags by In the old way, because it must, The bride with heartbreak in her eye, The mourner following hated dust: Thy duty, winged flame of Spring, Is but to love, and fly, and sing. 146 IMPROVEMENT ERA "Oh, happy life, to soar and sway Ahove the lives hy mortals led, Singing the merry months away, Master, not slave of daily bread, And, when the Autumn comes, to flee Wherever sunshine beckons thee!" Palinode — December "Like some lorn abbey now, the wood Stands roofless in the bitter air; In ruins on its floor is strewed The carven foliage quaint and rare, The homeless winds complain along The columned choir once thrilled with song. "And thou, dear nest, whence joy and praise The thankful oriole used to pour, Swing'st empty while the north winds chase Their snowy swarms from Labrador. But, loyal to the happy past, I love thee still for what thou wast."