260 



CITIZEN BIRD 



hammock, only deeper and more pocket-shaped, to keep 

 the babies from falling out, as Nat and Dodo both did 

 out of our hammock yesterday. 



" This nest Mrs. B. Oriole twines herself, from 

 plant fibres, adding strings of cotton or worsted when 

 she has a chance to find any. She secures it to the 

 end of a strong supple twig, usually at a good height 

 from the ground, and she likes an elm tree 

 best of all, because it is not easy for 

 cats or House People to 

 climb far out on the slen- 

 der swaying branches. 

 Up there the eggs 

 and young are 

 safely rocked 

 by the wind 

 and shel- 

 tered by 

 leaves. 

 A cat 

 may lo(:>k 

 at a king, 

 and also at 

 an Oriole's 

 nest, but 

 the look- 

 ing will not do her much good in either case. 



" Mamma Oriole sits on the nest, which is almost 

 closed over her head, and keeps all safe. Though she 

 does not sing to House Peo})le, how do we know but 

 what she whispers a little lullaby like this, on stormy 

 nights, to her nestlings ? 



Baltimork Oriole. 



