AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 



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Mary Merrill in regard to nest building. She tells that "once upon a 

 time the Oriole was appointed by somebody or something high in 

 authority to teach the art of nest building to her brothers, sisters and 

 cousins." The birds assembled and the lesson began. "First of all," 

 said the teacher, "always be extremely careful to select proper building 

 material." We already know that," came the reply in concert. And 

 the author relating the legend here inserts this appropriate comment: 

 "I have always suspected that the Turtle Dove left at this point. For 

 her nest remains to this day nothing more than a collection of nest 

 material piled together promiscuously." Thel egend goes on to tell 

 how the Oriole made two attempts to impart further knowledge, and 

 was each time interrupted by the chorus exclaiming, "We know that." 

 So although she proceeded no farther in her instruction than telling 

 them as to the best building site, she gave up in disgust and ended by 

 indignantly crying: "Why do you come to me to learn if you know all 

 that I know? Build your nests where you choose and how you choose." 

 So the Oriole remains to this day the master architect of nest building. 



NEST AND EGGS OF MOURNING DOVE. 



