How Animals Work. 



For the most marvellous examples of nest-weaving 

 we must look to the. true Weaver Birds and the Hang- 

 nests, or Icteridce, to give them their scientific name. 

 The Hang-nests are a strictly American family of birds, 

 some species showing marked affinities to the Starlings, 

 while their long, purse-like nests suggest their affinity 

 to the Weaver Birds. One of the most familiar of 

 these American Hang-nests is the Baltimore Oriole, 

 a sweet- voiced, handsome bird common throughout 

 New England. It is interesting to find that this beauti- 

 ful bird varies both the materials used in the construc- 

 tion of its nest, and the nesting site, according to the 

 part of America it is inhabiting. Thus, in the Northern 

 States, the nest is placed in as sheltered and sunny 

 a spot as can be found, and is snugly lined with the 

 finest and warmest materials closely woven together ; 

 while down in the South the nest is placed in a well- 

 shaded spot well screened from the fierce rays of the 

 noontide sun, and is frequently built entirely of lichens, 

 quite loosely woven together, so that plenty of air can 

 circulate through its walls, the soft, warm lining of the 

 Northern nest being altogether absent. 



The nest is a very beautiful piece of work, measur- 

 ing about six or seven inches in length, pouch-shaped, 

 and rather deeper than its total width, skilfully woven 

 of moss, lichens, and any plant fibres that can be ob- 

 tained ; flax, wool, tow, and hair of any description also 

 being used. Indeed, it is stated that the birds will 

 carry off any lengths of cotton thread or silk that they 

 can find about the gardens -or verandas of the houses, 

 and will do their best to try to unfasten the threads 

 by which the farmer has fastened his grafts on to the 



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