aoe FRIENDS WORTH KNOWING. 
concealed the sitting bird were at a considerable distance 
from any house in uncultivated parts. In all such local- 
ities sparrow-hawks were seen frequently, as compared 
with the neighborhoods selected for building the shallower 
open-topped nests, all of which were in willow or elm trees 
in the yards of farm-houses. The conclusion drawn was 
that the oricles knew where danger from hawks was to be 
apprehended, and constructed accordingly—the less elabo- 
rate nest in the farmer’s yard answering every purpose for 
incubation. Dr. Abbott says, however, that of the nests 
that did conceal the sitting bird, every one was really open 
at the top, and the bird entered from above. Its weight, 
when in the nest, appeared to draw the edges of the rim 
together sufficiently to shut out all view of the occupant. 
It is his opinion, however, that years ago, when its enemies 
were more numerous, the nest of this oriole was perfectly 
closed at the top, and with a side opening; but he finds 
none so now. 
The question why this species alone among our birds is 
supposed to have learned by dear experience to take such 
precautions against its foes has already been answered: it 
is because the Baltimore oriole is almost the only species 
in which the female is not protected from observation by 
her neutral and dull colors, and in which the brightly plu- 
