A MIDSUMMER PRINCE. 231 
In the swamps of the Gulf States, the Baltimore, find- 
ing no necessity for great warmth or shelter from chilling 
winds, fabricates an airy nest of Spanish moss (7%dlandsia 
usneordes). Audubon described and figured such a one, 
but the exact truth of Audubon’s description was rather 
doubted until the Boston Society of Natural History re- 
ceived other similar nests from Florida. In these cases the 
bird chose material perfectly suited to the temperature, in 
preference to the flax and felt which it would have used in 
the North. This is a modification due to difference of lat- 
itude and accompanying difference of climate; but I vent- 
ure to say that the Baltimores’ nests, in general, built during 
an unusually hot season in any latitude will be much light- 
er than those built during a cool or backward year. 
We may suppose that the oriole, having learned that the 
place for its home safest from all marauding animals and 
reptiles was out upon the tips of the swaying twigs, which 
would not bear the marander’s weight, would also have 
learned the shape best adapted to that situation; and that 
if it knew enough to choose the lesser danger from man in 
order to escape a greater one from hawks when it came out 
of the deep woods, it would also have reason enough to 
alter its style of building in such a way as should best hide 
the sitting bird from the prying eyes of its winged enemies, 
