IN THE CATSKILLS 



"A female (oriole), which I observed attentively, 

 carried off to her nest a piece of lamp-wick ten or 

 twelve feet long. This long string and many other 

 shorter ones were left hanging out for about a week 

 before both the ends were wattled into the sides of 

 the nest. Some other little birds, making use of 

 similar materials, at times twitched these flowing 

 ends, and generally brought out the busy Baltimore 

 from her occupation in great anger. 



"I may perhaps claim indulgence for adding a 

 little more of the biography of this particular bird, 

 as a representative also of the instincts of her race. 

 She completed the nest in about a week's time, 

 without any aid from her mate, who indeed ap- 

 peared but seldom in her company and was now 

 become nearly silent. For fibrous materials she 

 broke, hackled, and gathered the flax of the as- 

 clepias and hibiscus stalks, tearing off long strings 

 and flying with them to the scene of her labors. 

 She appeared very eager and hasty in her pursuits, 

 and collected her materials without fear or restraint 

 while three men were working in the neighboring 

 walks and many persons visiting the garden. Her 

 courage and perseverance were indeed truly ad- 

 mirable. If watched too narrowly, she saluted 

 with her usual scolding, tshrr, tshrr, tshrr> seeing no 

 reason, probably, why she should be interrupted in 

 her indispensable occupation. 



*' Though the males were now comparatively silent 

 144 



