242 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



could have been obtained here ; but, with the sagacity of a good 

 architect, he has improved this circumstance to his advantage, 

 and the strongest and best materials are uniformly found in 

 those parts by which the whole is supported." 



This bird is very fearless, and, like some other species, is fond 

 of the society of mankind, building in gardens and orchards, and 

 piping its mellow notes within the very streets, in calm defiance 

 of the roar and rattle of town life. This fearlessness of disposi- 

 tion enables observers to watch its proceedings very closely, and 

 in general the bird is found to begin its nest by working the 

 strongest threads or strings round a forked branch, so as to mark 

 out the entrance, and then by weaving the remainder of the nest 

 upon the strings. The neatness and strength of construction are, 

 however, very variable ; and it is suggested by "Wilson that the 

 inferior nests are probably made by young and inexperienced 

 birds, their architectural powers increasing with practice. 



A CLOSELY allied species, the Oechabd Okiole, or Bob-o'-link 

 (Xanthornis varius), is equally notable for its skill in nest-build- 

 ing — if such a word may be used of a structure which is begun 

 at the top and carried downwards, after the fashion employed in 

 Laputa. 



It is a pretty bird, but not so pretty as the Baltimore Oriole, 

 and the tints are very differently disposed, scarcely any two 

 individuals having the colours in exactly the same places. Like 

 the Baltimore Oriole, it is extremely variable in different stages 

 of its existence, the young male bearing great resemblance to the 

 mature female, and not attaining its full beauty until its third 

 year. When adult, the whole of the head, neck, upper part of 

 the back, breast, wings, and taU, are deep black, and a rich 

 ruddy chestnut hue occupies the remainder of the breast, the 

 under parts of the body, and part of the wing-coverts, some of 

 which are tipped with white. The young male and the adult 

 female are yellowish olive above, instead of black, with brown 

 wings, and yeUow on the breast and abdomen ; while the male 

 of the second year has much the same colours, but is known by 

 a patch of black over the head and on the throat, together with 

 a few chestnut feathers on the flanks and abdomen. It is 

 smaller than the Baltimore Oriole, and more slenderly made. 



The nest of this bird is almost as variable in structure as is 



