118 WAKE-ROBIN 
so that the bird used nearly equal quantities of 
various high, bright colors. The nest was made 
unusually deep and capacious, and it may be ques- 
tioned if such a thing of beauty was ever before 
woven by the cunning of a bird. 
Nuttall, by far the most genial of American orni- 
thologists, relates the following: — 
“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. 
“T 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 admir- 
