BIRDS OF THE WEST 53 



Oh, squirrels and owls and hawks and snakes and men — about 

 in that order I should say. 



BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 



When Lord Baltimore established his colony in Maryland 

 he was much impressed by the number of bright plumaged birds 

 that he saw. The one, however, that wore the colors of the 

 Baltimore family (orange and black) soon became the "Balti- 

 more Oriole". 



The word Oriole means "golden". Perched upon one of the 

 outer branches of an elm tree the oriole will attract you at first 

 by his song that has both volume and melody. You will glance 

 up at him and you will feel at once that an aristocrat has ap- 

 peared among the birds. 



His less conspicuous mate is working a miracle. She is 

 building a castle in the air. Far out on the tip of a swaying 

 branch she is weaving horsehair, strings, yarn and plant fiber 

 into the prettiest nest imaginable. It is a swinging nest, narrow 

 at the top and very deep, for it must exclude the rain and keep 

 the hawks and jays from getting at its contents. What enemy 

 but a winged one can reach it? 



Of all the birds this one seems to me to have attained the 

 greatest perfection in the construction of its nest. Squirrels can- 

 not run to it, snakes cannot crawl to it, boys cannot climb to it. 

 It looks almost like a wasp's nest and I doubt that the birds care 

 to fly to it. 



It is woven thinly enough above to be airy and thickly 

 enough below to be warm and, swinging like a cradle, it makes 

 poets of the baby birds. 



There are few moths, worms and caterpillars around where the 

 orioles are. 



I am sure that when you first saw the male bird in full 

 plumage you agreed with Lady Oriole : 



"For good Mrs. 0. who sat hatching her eggs 

 And only just left them to stretch her poor legs, 

 And pick for a minute the worm she preferred 

 Thought there never was seen such a beautiful bird." 



