BALTIMOEB ORIOLE — OECHARD ORIOLE. 261 



torn of the nest, and, like the walls, was sewn together with long 

 horse-hairs. 



The same writer remarks, that " so solicitous is the Baltimore to 

 procure proper materials for his nest, that in the season of build- 

 ing, the women in thp country are under the necessity of narrow- 

 ly watching their threads that may chance to be out bleaching, 

 and the farmer to secure his young grafts ; as the Baltimore, find- 

 ing the former, and the strings which tie the latter, so well adapted 

 for his purpose, frequently carries off both. Or, should the one 

 be over-heavy, and the other too firmly tied, he will try at them 

 for a considerable time before he gives up the attempt. Skeins 

 of silk and hanks of thread have often been found, after the leaves 

 were fallen, hanging round the Baltimore's nest, but so woven up 

 and entangled as to be entirely irreclaimable. 



" Before the introduction of Europeans, no such materials could 

 have been obtained here ; but, with the sagacity of a good archi- 

 tect, he has improved this circumstance to his advantage, and the 

 strongest and best materials are uniformly found in those parts 

 by which the whole is supported." ' 



This bird is very fearless, and, like some other species, is fond 

 of the society of mankind, building in gardens and orchards, and 

 piping its mellow notes within the very streets, in calm defiance 

 of the roar and rattle of town life. This fearlessness of disposition 

 enables observers to watch its proceedings very closely, and in 

 general the bird is found to begin its nest by working the stron- 

 gest threads or strings round a forked branch, so as to mark out 

 the entrance, and then by weaving the remainder of the nest upon 

 the strings. The neatness and strength of construction are, how- 

 ever, very variable ; and it is suggested by "Wilson that the infe- 

 rior nests are probably made by young and inexperienced birds, 

 their architectural powers increasing with practice. 



A CLOSELY allied species, the Orchard Oriole, or Bob-o'-link 

 {Xanthornis varius\ is equally notable for its skill in nest-building, 

 if such a word may be used of a structure which is begun at the 

 top and carried downward, after the fashion employed in Laputa. 



It is a pretty bird, but not so pretty as the Baltimore Oriole, 

 and the tints are very differently disposed, scarcely any two indi- 

 viduals having the colors in exactly the same places. Like the 

 Baltimore Oriole, it is extremely variable in different stages of its 

 existence, the young male bearing great resemblance to the ma- 



