30 TWENTIETH CENTURY CLASSICS 



able, and no doubt prefer this home to any that man 

 could build. 



The Green Heron, though he spends his time wading 

 about in the ponds and marshes, likes to build in the 

 trees near his favorite haunts. His nest is composed of 

 twigs loosely put together. Sometimes a number of Her- 

 ons build in one large tree. A large cottonwood tree near 

 the Kansas river has seven nests in it. 



The Baltimore Orioles, which you remember are rela- 

 tives of .the Cow.birds, are famous weavers, and build a 

 beautiful nest. They select a side branch and build near 

 the outer, end, away from danger, and where the summer 

 breezes can rock the cradle with loving tenderness. 



A singular case is reported from Colorado of an Oriole 

 that had taken two mates, one after the nest was com- 

 pleted ; so, to accommodate the new member of the family, 

 an addition was built to the first nest. Here they reared 

 the two broods in perfect harmony. 



The Oriole uses its bill as a needle, weaving bits of 

 yarn, horse-hair, rags, paper, strips of bark and grasses 

 into the delicate basket, giving it shape and symmetry 

 with its body. 



In an early day, before the advent of the chimney, 

 the little Chimney Swift built its nest in hollow trees. 

 Now they also use chimneys, probably as offering greater 

 protection. The nest is made of small twigs of about the 

 same length and thickness. These it breaks from the 

 trees while on the wing. They are cemented together 

 and to the wall by saliva, which is secreted more abun- 

 dantly during nesting-time. Anyone who has ever removed 

 these nests will concede that the work is well done. The 

 Chinese Swift builds its nest of saliva without the sticks. 

 The Orientals eat this kind of nest, and consider it a great 

 delicacy. 



