THE BALTIMORE STARLING. 75 



always found about its nest, so that some of my 

 friends have given it the name of the politician; 

 all these substances are interwoven with the silk 

 of caterpillars, and the inside is lined with fine dry 

 grass and hair." 



But by far the most celebrated nest of this kind is 

 that of the Baltimore starling (Icterus Baltimore). 

 We shall give Wilson's account entire. 



" Almost the whole genus of orioles," says he, 

 "belong to America, and, with a few exceptions, 

 build pensile nests. Few of them, however, equal 

 the Baltimore in the construction of these receptacles 

 for their young, and in giving them, in such a supe- 

 rior degree, convenience, warmth, and security. For 

 these purposes he generally fixes on the high bending 

 extremities of the branches, fastening strong strings 

 of hemp or flax round two forked twigs correspond- 

 ing to the intended width of the nest ; with the same 

 materials, mixed with quantities of loose tow, he in- 

 terweaves or fabricates a strong, firm kind of cloth, 

 not unlike the substance of a hat in its raw state, 

 forming it into a pouch of six or seven inches in 

 depth, lining it substantially with various soft sub- 

 stances, well interwoven with the outward netting, 

 and, lastly, finishes with a layer of horsehair, the 

 whole being shaded from the sun and rain by a nat- 

 ural penthouse or canopy of leaves. As to a hole 

 being left in the side for the young to be fed and void 

 their excrements through, as Pennant and others re- 

 late, it certainly is an error : I have never met with 

 anything of the kind in the nest of the Baltimore. 

 Though birds of the same species have, generally 

 speaking, a common form of building, yet, contrary 

 to the usually received opinion, they do not build 

 exactly in the same manner. As much difference 

 will be found in the style, neatness, and finishing 

 of the nests of the Baltimores as in their voices. 

 Some appear far superior workmen to others, and 

 probably age may improve them in this as it does 



