260 



HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



Crested Cassique. 



Baltimore Oriole. 



crushed into a shapeless mass at the bottom of a wine-hamper 

 by a careless servant, and covered with soot and dust, it has re- 

 tained its form, and shows perfectly well how the fastening to the 

 branches was managed; 



The materials of the nest are, however, extremely variable, the 

 bird having a natural genius for nidification, and being always 

 ready to take advantage of any new discovery in architecture. 

 One of these nests, described by Wilson, was deeper in proportion 

 than the specimen which has been figured, being five inches in its 

 widest diameter and seven in depth, the opening being contracted 

 to two and a half inches. Various materials, such as flax, tow, 

 hair, and wool, were woven into the walls, which were strength- 

 ened by horse-hairs, some two feet in length, sewn through and 

 through the fabric. Cow's hair was also employed for the bot- 



