BIRD CRADLES. 107 
For the skilful nests of the vireos have yet their matchless 
pattern in the work of that prince of weavers, the “hang-bird,” 
or Baltimore oriole, whose swinging, pendulous nest is a master- 
piece, not only of textile art, but equally of constructive skill, 
whether from an engineering or architectural point of view. What 
sagacious perception of means and intelligent discrimination in 
their employment are here disclosed! The trite maxim 
that “the strength of a chain is only that * of its weakest 
link” would 
seem, On a su- 
perficial glance at 
the nest, to be entire- 
ly ignored by the ort- 
ole, the attachment of 
the nest often seem- 
ing to exhibit a 
daring dearth of 
material and in 
singular contrast 
to the elaborate density of the weaving 
below. A closer examination, however, 
shows a most sagacious compensation in 
the economy of this apparently weak 
portion, for here it will be found in al- 
most every instance the toughest fibre in 
the entire nest has been concentrated, in most 
cases that have come under my observation ; 
and in three specimens now before me, consist- 
ing of remnants of strings, fish-line, strips of cloth 
securely twisted and looped around the forked 
or drooping twigs, the loose ends below be- 
ing intricately interwoven among the gray 
hempen fibres of which the body of the 
PDP nest is composed, the whole structure 
being literally sewed through and 
FERN-WOOL GLEANERS. through with long horse-hairs. 
