52 THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



weed, loosely thrown across the branches, with 

 scarcely any regard to form or neatness; and in 

 many instances long pieces of sea-weed hang down 

 from the nest, giving it a very slovenly aspect. 

 The annexed representation of this nest is from 

 Mr. Gould's work. 



So solicitous is the Baltimore oriole to pro- 

 cure proper materials for his nest, according to the 

 district in which he resides, that in the season of 

 building, as we are informed by Wilson, the women 

 in the country are under the necessity of narrowly 

 watching their thread that may chance to be out 

 bleaching, and the farmer to secure his young 

 grafts, as the oriole, finding the former, and the 

 strings which tie the latter, so well adapted for his 

 purpose, frequently carries off both ; or should the 

 one be too heavy, and the other too firmly tied, he 

 will tug at them a considerable time before he 

 gives up the attempt. Skeins of silk, and hanks 

 of thread, have been often found, after the leaves 

 were fallen, hanging round the nest, but so woven 

 up and entangled, as to be irreclaimable. Before 

 the introduction of Europeans, no such material 

 could nave been obtained ; but, with the sagacity 

 of a good architect, the oriole has improved this 



