406 HISTORY OF THE 



of finish that human art would vainly attempt to rival. These 

 elegant fabrics are hung at the end of slender twigs, out of 

 the reach of ordinary enemies, and, though they may swing with 

 every breath of wind, this is but a cradle rocking for the callow 

 young, and it is a rude blast indeed that endangers the safety 

 of their leafy home, 



"Little time passes after their arrival before the modestly 

 attired females, rambling silently through the verdure, are singled 

 out and attended each by her impetuous consort, who sings his 

 choicest songs, and displays the prowess she admires most. His 

 song is an elegant paraphrase of the Baltimore's, with all its 

 richness and variety, though an ear well skilled in distinguish- 

 ing bird's notes can readily detect a difference. Their court- 

 ship happily settled, the pair may be seen fluttering through 

 the thicket they have chosen, in eager search for a building 

 place; and when a suitable one is found, no time is lost in be- 

 ginning to weave their future home. It is a great mistake to 

 suppose that birds of the same species always build in the same 

 way. Though their nests have a general resemblance in style 

 of architecture, they differ greatly according to their situation, 

 to the time the birds have before the nest must be used for the 

 reception of the eggs, and often, we are tempted to think, accord- 

 ing to the taste and skill of the builders. In their work of this 

 sort, birds show a remarkable power of selection, as well as 

 adapting themselves to circumstances; in proof of which we have 

 only to examine the three beautiful specimens now lying before 

 us. Each is differently constructed, and while all three evince 

 wonderful powers of weaving, one of them in particular, is 

 astonishingly ingenious, displaying the united accomplishments 

 of weaving and basket making. Before proceeding we may 

 premise that the idea of the nest is a sort of bag or purse, closely 

 woven, of slender, pliant substances, like strips of fibrous bark, 

 grasses, hair, twine, etc., open at the top and hung by its rim 

 in the fork of a twig, or at the very end of a floating spray. 



"The first nest was built in a pine tree; and if the reader 

 will call to mind the stiff nature of the terminal branchlets, 

 each bearing a thick bunch of long, straight, needle-like leaves, 



