158 OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 



at, and even untie, hard knots made of tow. In Audu- 

 bon's magnificent plates, a nest is represented as formed 

 outwardly of the Long-Moss ; * where this abounds, of 

 course, the labor of obtaining materials must be greatly 

 abridged. The author likewise remarks, that the 

 whole fabric consists almost entirely of this material, 

 loosely interwoven, without any warm lining, a labor 

 which our ingenious artist seems aware would be super- 

 fluous in the warm forests of the lower Mississippi. A 

 female, which I observed attentively, carried off to her nest 

 a piece of lamp-wick 10 or 12 feet long. This long string, 

 and many other shorter ones, were left hanging out for 

 about a week before both the ends were wattled into the 

 sides of the nest. Some other little birds, making use of 

 similar materials, at times twitched these flowing ends, 

 and generally brought out the busy Baltimore from her 

 occupation in great anger. 



I may perhaps claim indulgence for adding a little more 

 on the biography of this particular bird, as a representa- 

 tiv^e also of the instinct of her race. She completed the 

 nest in about a week's time, without any aid from her 

 mate ; who, indeed, appeared but seldom in her company, 

 and was now become nearly silent. For fibrous materials, 

 she broke, hackled, and gathered the flax of the Asclepias 

 and Hibiscus stalks, tearing off long strings, and flying 

 with them to the scene of her labors. She appeared 

 very eager and hasty in her pursuits, and collected her 

 materials, without fear or restraint, while three men were 

 working in the neighbouring walks, and many persons 

 visiting the garden. Her courage and perseverance were 

 indeed truly admirable. If watched too narrowly, she 



* Tillandsia usneoides. 



% 



