ORCHARD ORIOLE. 215 



which it is strongly twisted, to give more stability to the whole, 

 and prevent it from being overset by the wind. 



When they choose the long pendent branches of the Weeping- 

 willow to build in, as they frequently do, the nest, though formed 

 of the same materials, is made much deeper, and of slighter 

 texture. The circumference is marked out by a number of these 

 pensile twigs, that descend on each side like ribs, supporting 

 the whole; their thick foliage, at the same time, completely con- 

 cealing the nest from view. The depth in this case is increased 

 to four or five inches, and the whole is made much slighter. 

 These long pendent branches, being sometimes twelve and even 

 fifteen feet in length, have a large sweep in the wind, and ren- 

 der the first of these precautions necessary, to prevent the eggs 

 or young from being thrown out; and the close shelter afforded 

 by the remarkable thickness of the foliage is, no doubt, the 

 cause of the latter. Two of these nests, such as I have here de- 

 scribed, are now lying before me, and exhibit not only art in 

 the construction, but judgment in adapting their fabrication so 

 judiciously to their particular situations. If the actions of birds 

 proceeded, as some would have us believe, from the mere im- 

 pulses of that thing called instinct, individuals of the same spe- 

 cies would uniformly build their nest in the same manner, wher- 

 ever they might happen to fix it; but it is evident from these 

 just mentioned, and a thousand such circumstances, that they 

 reason a priori from cause to consequence; providently manag- 

 ing with a constant eye to future necessity and convenience. 



The eggs, one of which is represented in the same plate (fig. 

 ,) are usually four, of a very pale bluish tint, with a few small 

 specks of brown and spots of dark purple. An egg of the Balti- 

 more Oriole is exhibited beside it (fig. ,); both of these were 

 minutely copied from nature, and are sufficient of themselves 

 to determine, beyond all possibility of doubt, the diversity of 

 the two species. I may add, that Charles W. Peale, proprietor 

 of the Museum in Philadelphia, who, as a practical naturalist, 

 stands deservedly first in the first rank of American connoisseurs, 

 has expressed to me his perfect conviction of the changes which 



