WILD LIFE OF ORCHARD AND FIELD 



ing animals and reptiles was out upon the tips of 

 the swaying twigs, which would not bear the ma- 

 rauder'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, and at the same 

 time afford dryness and warmth to the interior. 

 Both of these were secured in the thick branches 

 of the primeval forest by the leaves overhead and 

 around. It is hence found that in the same climate 

 the more exposed a nest is the denser its compo- 

 sition, the deeper the pouch, and the smaller its 

 mouth. Pennant and others of the earlier writers 

 on American birds described the orioles' nests as 

 having only a hole near the top for entrance and 

 exit, like those of some of the South American 

 species. Wilson, who was the first real critic of 

 our ornithology, said this was certainly an error, 

 adding, "1 have never met with anj^thing of the 

 kind. " Both authors seem to have made too sweep- 

 ing assertions, and, as usual, there is a golden 

 mean of fact. 



256 



