298 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



lutely defending their young wlien in danger, and exposing themselves fear- 

 lessly to danger and to death rather than forsake them. If their young are 

 taken and caged, tiie parents follow them, and, if permitted, will continue to 

 feed them. 



Mr. liidgway mentions an instance where the female entered her nest 

 wliile lie was in the act of .severing tlie lindi ironi wldcli it was suspended, 

 and persisted in remaining there until the nest liad been cut off and taken 

 into the house. One of these birds, reared from the nest by a family in 

 Worcester, Mass., became perfectly domesticated, was allowed full liberty, 

 and even when taken by the married daughter of its mistress, perched on 

 her finger, through tlie open grounds to her own house, made no attempt to 

 escape. It delighted in occasional acts of mischief, especially in putting its 

 pointed bill through the meshes of the lace curtains, and then opening its 

 beak, seeming to enjoy the sound produced by tearing the threads. 



In the construction of its nest the Oriole displays great skill and inge- 

 nuity. Tills structure is a pendulous and nearly cylindrical pouch, suspended 

 from the extremity of some hanging branch. It is constructed by means of 

 the interweaving of the natural filaments of several flaxlike plants into a 

 homogeneous fabric of gi-eat strengtli, and admirably adapted to its purpose. 

 A nest of this species from West Florida, as well as the one figured by Au- 

 dubon, was made entirely of the long moss {Tillandda usneoidcs) so abun- 

 dant in Southern forests. 



The young birds, before they can fly, climb to the edge of the nest, and 

 are liable, in sudden tempests, to be thrown out. If uninjured, they are 

 good climbers, and by means of wings, bill, and claws, are often able to 

 reach places of safety. In one instance a fledgling, which had broken both 

 legs, and was placed in a basket to be fed by its parents, managed, by wings 

 and bill, to raise itself to the rim, and in a few days took its departure. 



Tlie parents feed their young chiefly with caterpillars, which they appai-- 

 ently swallow and then disgorge for this purpose. In confinement they feed 

 readily on soaked bread and fruit, and are especially fond of figs. They are 

 soon reconciled to confinement, become very docile and even playful, sing 

 readily, and will even come at a given signal and alight on the finger of 

 their master. 



The eggs of the Baltimore are usually five and rarely six in number. 

 They are of an oblong-oval shape, pointed at one end, and measure .'.U of an 

 incli in length by .60 in breadth. TJieir ground-color is wdiite, with a slight 

 roseate tinge when fresh, fading into a bluish shade in time. They are all 

 variously marked, dotted, and niarViled, witli spots, blotches, and irregular 

 waving lines of purplish-brown. These markings are of greatly varying 

 shades, from a light purple to almost complete blackness, only perceptibly 

 puridish in a strong light. 



