38 THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE, OR HANG-NEST. 



masses that spread from branch to branch over the cypress trees. The 

 dejected Indian's camp lies in your sight. He casts a melancholy glance 

 over the scene, and remembers that he is no longer the peaceful and sole 

 possessor of the land. Islands, one after another, come in sight, and at every 

 winding of the stream you see boats propelled by steam ascending the river, 

 and others, without such aid, silently gliding with the current. 



Much might the traveller find to occupy his mind, and lead him into 

 speculations regarding the past, the present, and the future, were he not 

 attracted by the clear mellow notes, that issue from the woods, and gratified 

 by the sight of the brilliant Oriole now before you. In solitudes like these, 

 the traveller might feel pleased with any sound, even the howl of the wolf, 

 or the still more dismal bellow of the alligator. Then how delightful must 

 it be to hear the melody resulting from thousands of musical voices that 

 come from some neighbouring tree, and which insensibly leads the mind, 

 with whatever it may previously have been occupied, first to the contempla- 

 tion of the wonders of nature, and then to that of the Great Creator himself. 



Now we have ascended the mighty river, have left it, and entered the 

 still more enchanting Ohio, and yet never for a day have we been without 

 the company of the Oriole. Here, amongst the pendulous branches of the 

 lofty tidip-irees, it moves gracefully up and down, seeking in the expanding 

 leaves and opening blossoms the caterpillar and the green beetle, which 

 generally contribute to its food. Well, reader, it was one of these pendulous 

 twigs which I took when I made the drawing before you. But instead of 

 having cut it on the banks of the Ohio, I found it in the State of Louisiana, 

 to which we shall return. 



The Baltimore Oriole arrives from the south, perhaps from Mexico, or 

 perhaps from a more distant region, and enters Louisiana as soon as spring 

 commences there. It approaches the planter's house, and searches amongst 

 the surrounding trees for a suitable place in which to settle for the season. 

 It prefers, I believe, the trees that grow on the sides of a gentle declivity. 

 The choice of a twig being made, the male Oriole becomes extremely con- 

 spicuous. He flies to the ground, searches for the longest and driest filaments 

 of the moss, which in that State is known by the name of Spanish beard, 

 and whenever he finds one fit for his purpose, ascends to the favourite spot 

 where the nest is to be, uttering all the while a continued chirrup, which 

 seems to imply that he knows no fear, but on the contrary fancies himself 

 the acknowledged king of the woods. This sort of chirruping becomes 

 louder, and is emitted in an angry tone, whenever an enemy approaches, or 

 the bird is accidentally surprised; the sight of a cat or a dog being always 

 likely to produce it. No sooner does he reach the branches, than with bill 

 and claws, aided by an astonishing sagacity, he fastens one end of the moss 





