DWELLINGS. 



197 



interstices, and the dwelling is carpeted in the warm- 

 est and softest manner. Even in the same region 

 there is great diversity in the style, neatness, and 

 finish of the _, 



nests, as well as 

 in the materials 

 used. Skeins 

 of silk and 

 hanks of thread 

 have frequently 

 been found in 

 the Baltimore 

 Bird's nest, so 

 woven up and 

 entangled that 

 they could not 

 be withdrawn. 

 As such ma- 

 terials could 

 not be obtained 

 before the in- 

 troduction of 

 Europeans, it 

 is evident that 

 this bird, with 

 the sagacity of 

 a good archi- 

 tect, knows how 

 to select the 

 strongest and 

 best materials for his work. iVIany other facts might 

 be quoted, but these suffice to show that the species 

 is not animated by an inevitable instinct, but that each 

 individual, skilful no doubt by heredity, can modify the 



Fig. 32 



