THE "ORIOLE. 279 



ceived opinion, they do not biiild 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 in their colors. I 

 have a number of their nests now before me, all completed, 

 and with eggs. One of these, the neatest, is in the form of a 

 cylinder, of five inches diameter, and seven inches in depth, 

 rounded at bottom. The opening at top is narrowed, by a 

 horizontal covering, to two inches and a half in diameter. 

 The materials are flax, hemp, tow, hair, and wool, woven into 

 a complete cloth ; the whole tightly sewed through and 

 through with long horse hairs, several of which measure two 

 feet in length. The bottom is composed of thick tufts of cow 

 hair, sewed also with strong horse hair. This nest was hung 

 on the extremity of the horizontal branch of an apple-tree, 

 fronting the south-east ; was visible one hundred yards off. 

 though shaded by the sun ; and was the work of a very 

 beautiful and perfect bird. The eggs are five, white, slightly 

 tinged with flesh color, marked on the greater end with pur- 

 ple dots, and on the other parts with long hair-like lines, in- 

 tersecting each other in a variety of directions. 



So solicitous is the Baltimore to procure proper materials for 

 his nest, that, in the season of building, 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 Baltimore 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 Baltimore's 

 nest ; but so woven up, and entangled, as to be entirely irre- 

 claimable. Before the introduction of Europeans, no such 

 material could have been obtained here ; but with the saga- 

 city of a good architect, he has improved this circumstance to 



