THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE, OR HANG-NEST. 39 



to a twig, with as much art as a sailor might do, and takes up the other end, 

 which he secures also, but to another twig a few inches off, leaving the thread 

 floating in the air like a swing, the curve of which is perhaps seven or eight 

 inches from the twigs. The female comes to his assistance with another 

 filament of moss, or perhaps some cotton thread, or other fibrous substance, 

 inspects the work which her mate has done, and immediately commences her 

 operations, placing each thread in a contrary direction to those arranged by 

 her lordly mate, and making the whole cross and recross, so as to form an 

 irregular net-work. Their love increases daily as they see the graceful 

 fabric approaching perfection, until their conjugal affection and faith become 

 as complete as in any species of birds with which I am acquainted. 



The nest has now been woven from the bottom to the top, and so secured 

 that no tempest can carry it off without breaking the branch to which it is 

 suspended. Remark what follows. This nest contains no warming sub- 

 stance, such as wool, cotton, or cloth, but is almost entirely composed of the 

 Spanish moss, interwoven in such a manner that the air can easily pass 

 through it. The parents no doubt are aware of the intense heat which will 

 exist ere long in this part of the world, and moreover take especial care to 

 place their nest on the north-east side of the trees. On the contrary, had 

 they gone as far as Pennsylvania or New York, they would have formed it 

 of the warmest and softest materials, and have placed it in a position which 

 would have left it exposed to the sun's rays; the changes in the weather 

 during the early period of incubation being sometimes so great there, that 

 the bird looks on these precautions as necessary to ensure the life of its brood 

 against intense cold, should it come, while it knows that the heat in these 

 northern latitudes will not be so great as to incommode them. I have 

 observed these sensible differences in the formation and position of the nests 

 of the Baltimore Oriole, a great many times, as no doubt have other persons. 

 The female lays from four to six eggs, and in Louisiana frequently rears two 

 broods in a season. The period of incubation is fourteen days. The eggs 

 are about an inch in length, rather broadly ovate, pale brown, dotted, spotted, 

 and tortuously lined with dark brown. 



The movements of these birds as they run among the branches of trees 

 differ materially from those of almost all others. They cling frequently by 

 the feet in order to reach an insect at such a distance from them as to require 

 the full extension of their neck, body, and legs, without letting go their hold. 

 They sometimes glide, as it were, along a small twig, and at other times 

 move sidewise for a few steps. Their motions are elegant and stately. 

 Their song consists of three or four, or at most eight or ten, loud, full, and 

 mellow notes, extremely agreeable to the ear. 



A day or two before the young are quite able to leave the nest, they often 



