several other very similar modifications and variations. But these characters give a 

 very inadequate idea of their song. It must be heard to be appreciated, and no 

 description can do justice to its beauties. The notes are of an almost endless variety, 

 and each individual has its own special variations. The female, too, has her own 

 peculiar and pretty notes, which she incessantly warbles as she weaves her curiously 

 elaborate nest." 



The movements of the Oriole among the branches are very quick and graceful. 

 On the ground it is not at home and it rarely alights on it, except when gathering 

 nesting material or when pursuing an escaping insect. The flight is extremely elegant 

 and quick, usually from tree to tree. When flying far, it ascends high into the air above 

 the trees, and then speeding on rapidly. 



Though so bright and beautiful birds, such exquisite songsters and hilarious tenants 

 of our groves, the interest which the Baltimore Oriole never fails to excite, centers, after 

 all, in the masterpiece of its pouch-like nest, "which its clever bill, like a needle with 

 the eye at the point," suspends for our admiration from the drooping bough of an elm 

 or other tree, under a canopy of tremulous foliage. It is woven in the most wonderfol 

 manner and of quite characteristic substances. Both birds participate in building this 

 beautiful structure. Sometimes the female does most of the weaving, while the male 

 supplies the material, and again the male seems to be mainly the architect. Other 

 birds are mostly engaged in the early morning hours in the construction of their 

 domiciles; the Orioles, however, do not confine themselves to special hours of the 

 day, but are diligently working all day long, until the nest is complete. Where they 

 are protected, and, in consequence, feel safe, they are easily observed at their work, 

 and we may even assist them in supplying them with nesting material. As may be 

 supposed, so elaborate a structure is not the work of a few days, but may require 

 a week or more. It is always purse-like or deeply pouched, and one of the most per- 

 fectly pensile nests imaginable. It is usually six to eight inches long, about four inches 

 in breadth, and somewhat contracted at the opening, and pouched out below. It is 

 suspended fi-om a horizontal branch, usually at a great distance from the trunk, where 

 it is out of the reach for almost all climbing animals. The nests which I found in Wis- 

 consin and Illinois, were placed from twelve to forty feet, and in the lowlands even 

 higher, from the ground. There are usually three classes of nests. Those built in the 

 elms in the meadows are mainly constructed of the tough silky fiber of asclepias, 

 mixed with horse hair and lined with plant down. These are the most beautiful of 

 all the nests. A second kind of nests is usually found in gardens. These ate mainly 

 built of strings, twine, grasses, and a few horse hairs which give the structure 

 shape and substance. The interior is lined with feathers and cotton. A third class of 

 nests is mostly constructed of horse hair and a few strings, and lined with cottony 

 substances. This last is the most substantial and lasting structure, hanging on the 

 trees often for years. I frequently supplied these birds with all kinds of strings, ranging in 

 color from pure white to orange, scarlet, green, blue, brown, and black, but I have 

 never observed that they made use of bright-colored material ; they invariably selected 

 the white, black, and dark brown strings. The same observation has been made by 

 Miss Hedwig Schlichting, who, during her long residence in Howard's Grove, has 



