1 82 Plasterer Birds Chimney -swallow. 



but kept frpm swaying too violently in the 

 wind by cords that brace it in different direc- 

 tions. 



19. The Baltimore oriole spends the winter in Mexico, 

 Central America, and the West Indies, and returns north 

 in the spring, flying all day and resting at night. It is 

 known as far north as the New England States, and is 

 sometimes called the " fire-bird," from its color, also 

 "hang bird" and " golden robin." 



20. Some birds are good plasterers, and fix 

 their nests with mud or clay very neatly and se- 

 curely in any favorable place. Some are so skil- 

 ful as to make them adhere securely to the 

 smooth surface of glass. 



21. Our common CHIMNEY-SWALLOW is a 

 very good plasterer. 



22. He has, besides, a very curious arrangement in his 

 head. There are two glands or bags in the back part of it, 

 which are filled with liquid glue. After he has made a shelf 

 of mud or clay he makes his nest of tender twigs, interlacing 

 them and joining their ends smoothly together by means 

 of this liquid glue, so that no rough ends may stick out on 

 the inside. After being lined with feathers or any other soft 

 material and securely plastered around on the outside, it is 

 ready for the eggs. 



23. Cuvier was one of the greatest naturalists that 

 ever lived. His attention was first called to this study by 

 some of these plasterers. When quite a young man he 

 went one summer to spend his vacation in a little place 

 near the sea. Just outside of his window two swallows 

 had built their nest. One day a strange bird came and 

 'took possession of the nest, opposing its sharp beak to the 



