The Bullock Oriole 



Nest Kii2%, made fast by brim and side supports to branch of 

 white oak; composed wholly of coarse dried grasses, chiefly fox-tail, the 

 heads of which are turned outside and left as bristling decorations; a 

 mere pinch of feathers in lining. Depth over all 7 inches; width 6; inside 

 depth from brim 4; width of opening 2 by 3. 



Nest 44 ] / 14 , composed of fine dry grasses well weathered. Completely 

 invested by drooping cluster of white oak twigs; built up with gradual 

 convergence until the opening, one inch by one and a half across, too 

 small to be functional, and so abandoned. 



Nest i?p5 4 /, 7 (from Arizona). Rigidly supported by forking limbs 

 of a horizontal branch of osage orange, and built up above supports; less 

 pensile than a vireo's nest. A thick-walled structure of mingled horse- 

 hair, string, and cotton waste, so copious as not to require special lining. 

 Measures, outside, 4 inches in depth by /[}4 in width. Inside 3J/2 inches 

 in depth. Opening 2 by 3. 



Some very interesting nests of this species have been described by 

 Mr. C. S. Sharp 1 from Escondido, in which the stems and heads of wild 

 oats were almost the sole material employed. The straggly projecting 

 heads of this grain made a striking and unusual effect for a bird whose 

 habits are a synonym for neatness. 



Most of the actual work of nest construction is carried out by the 

 female, while her mate trails about helplessly, or else applauds her efforts 

 in song. But one observer, Mr. J. F. Illingworth, 2 declares that both 

 birds labor in the construction of the walls, that one posts itself inside 

 the nest and the other outside, and that the thread is passed back and 

 forth from one to the other, until the nest is thoroughly "darned." Be 

 this as it may, it is the female who makes the selection of material, and 

 does all the "rustling." Watching a bird at this perennial quest is 

 no end of fun. Once, in camp near Dos Palos, a Bullock Oriole paid us 

 a visit just as the cook was announcing breakfast. All eyes were turned 

 upon her. She spied the dish-towel drying on the fence, sidled up to it, 

 sampled a thread, tested it carefully throughout its length, found it 

 satisfactory, and flew off with it. While she was absent I put up two 

 lengths of red string for her approval. On returning, she decided that 

 the dishcloth was on the whole too weak for her purpose and passed it 

 up. Then she nibbled at the red strings meditatively, as who should 

 say, "Too bad these ar'n't white, now isn't it?" let them fall unheeded, 

 and passed on. Next she lighted on the automobile, seized a tarpaulin 

 tape, wrestled with it, and in the scrimmage fell over the corner and 

 down with the unwinding tape, like a spider descending on its own belly- 



1 Condor, Vol. V., March, 1903, pp. 38-42. 

 'Condor, Vol. Ill, July, 1901. p. 99. 



W2 



