BIRD'S NEST 



61 



than Baltimore orioles. While the trees are in blossom they 

 dress themselves in the brightest gold and fill the air with 

 music as they hunt among the opening buds for caterpillars 

 and other enemies of the trees. During the labor of weaving 

 their nests and rearing their young they neglect their dress 

 and song, and by the end of July their feathers are a rusty 

 brown and their voices are silent. But all through the sum- 

 mer they pay the farmer 

 good rent for the use of 

 his trees, for they are 

 fond of hairy caterpil- 

 lars, and eat great num- 

 bers of the kind that 

 spin webs and strip the 

 leaves from orchard 

 trees. Have you seen 

 a web nest torn to pieces 

 and filled with dead cat- 

 erpillars ? An oriole 

 had probably been there 

 for breakfast. When 

 food is plentiful it will 

 often suck the juices 

 from caterpillars and 

 leave their skins. Cuck- 

 oos also are fond of 

 these web worms. 



Oriole's Nest. — How 

 many orioles' nests can you see on your way to school ? In 

 what part of a tree is an oriole's nest usually found ? How is 

 it protected from thieves of all kinds ? Can you see an oriole's 

 nest easily in summer ? Is it of any advantage to the bird that 

 this is so ? Can you see the nest easily in winter ? Where do 

 orioles go in winter ? When they return in spring, do they 

 use their old nests ? Watch an old nest and see if it is used. 



Oriole's Nest 



