OUR HOME BIRDS. 
109 
former proprietor of Maryland. He is also called 
golden oriole — his English name — golden robin, hang- 
nest, fire-bird, and hanging-bird. He is just the 
length of the cow-bird, seven inches ; the head 
throat, and upper part of the back and wings are 
black ; the lower part of the back and the whole 
under parts are bright orange, deepening into ver- 
milion on the breast ; the back is also divided by a 
band of orange ; the tail is black and orange. The 
plumage of the female is lighter and duller than that 
of her mate. — What do you think of this picture of 
a nest ?” 
“It looks like a bag,” said Clara, while Edith pro- 
nounced it a big purse. 
“ It certainly is very odd and very pretty,” con- 
tinued Miss Harson, “ and quite a wonderful piece 
of workmanship for birds. The oriole seems to com- 
bine in his nest warmth, convenience, and security. 
4 He generally fixes on the high, bending extremi- 
ties of the branches, fastening strong strings of hemp 
or flax round two forked twigs ; with the same ma- 
terials he fabricates a strong, firm kind of cloth, not 
unlike the substance of a hat in its raw state ; forms 
it into a pouch six or eight inches in depth, lining 
it substantially with soft substances well interwoven 
with the outward netting ; and lastly finishes it with 
a layer of horse-hair ; the whole being shaded from 
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