BIRD CRADLES. 



107 



For the skilful nests of the vireos have yet their matchless 

 pattern in the work of that prince of weavers, the "hang-bird," 

 or Baltimore oriole, whose swinging, pendulous nest is a master- 

 piece, not only of textile art, but equally of constructive skill, 

 whether from an engineering or architectural point of view. What 

 sagacious perception of means and intelligent discrimination in 

 their employment are here disclosed! The trite maxim 



that " the strength of a chain is only that **$ of its weakest 



link " would 

 seem, on a su- 

 perficial glance at 

 the nest, to be entire- 

 ly ignored by the ori- 

 ole, the attachment of 

 the nest often seem- 

 ing to exhibit a 

 daring dearth of 

 material and in 

 singular contrast 



to the elaborate density of the weaving 

 below. A closer examination, however, 

 shows a most sagacious compensation in 

 the economy of this apparently weak 

 portion, for here it will be fqund in al- 

 most every instance the toughest fibre in 

 the entire nest has been concentrated, in most 

 cases that have come under my observation ; 

 and in three specimens now before me, consist- 

 ing of remnants of strings, fish-line, strips of cloth 

 securely twisted and looped around the forked 

 or drooping twigs, the loose ends below be- 

 ing intricately interwoven among the gray 

 hempen fibres of which the body of the 

 nest is composed, the whole structure 

 being literally sewed through and 

 through with long horse -hairs. 



FERN-WOOI. GLEANERS. 



