THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 41 



the sun, using in its construction the long fibres of 

 the Spanish moss which it attaches at both ends to 

 the forks in a branch, forming a number of loops 

 about seven inches in length. When a sufficient 

 number of these loops are made, it commences weav- 

 ing in an opposite direction with the same material 

 until it has produced a strong but open and airy 

 pouch or bag, rounded at the bottom, and larger than 

 at the top, where an aperture is left just large enough 

 to admit of the easy passage of the birds in and out. 

 There is no lining to this nest generally, as it is not 

 required for warmth. In New York and Pennsyl- 

 vania, where the atmosphere is cooler, and where 

 there is a frequent occurrence of cold rains, it selects 

 warmer materials, such as cotton yarns, hemp, tow, 

 hair, wool, pieces of twine, or strings of any kind; 

 these it uses in the same manner as its southern 

 neighbor, but the texture of the nest, when com- 

 plete, is firmer, more compact, and is furnished with 

 a warm lining of cow's hair or wool. It is generally 

 suspended upon the south side of the tree, where, 

 while it can be well protected by the overhanging 

 leaves from drenching rains, it is still open to the 

 rays of the sun. The long, pendent boughs of the 

 willow are a favorite resort of the Oriole, and here 

 the female may be seen sitting quietly and at her 

 ease with her nest flying in the wind in the midst 

 of a violent storm ; but so firmly is her house secured, 

 that unless the branch from which it hangs should 

 be torn from the tree, she need fear no harm. 



There are two other species of Hanging-bird or 

 4* 



