STAELIXGS. 
145 
turning in all directions, the \nvid yellow and black, 
or black and red of their plumage, giving a splendour 
to the animation of the scene, which does not belong 
to the rookeries of Europe.. There can be no doubt 
that pendulous nests, which are much more common 
in tropica] than in temperate latitudes, are admirably 
calculated to guard the eggs and yoimg, not only from 
the numerous snakes which frequent trees, hut also 
from the insidious arts of the cuckoos, or the ma- 
rauding habits of the hush-shrikes and the toucans. 
Eew of these birds equal the Baltimore Hangnest 
{Icterus Baltimore) in the construction of this re- 
ceptacle for its young, and in giving to it in such a 
superior degree convenience, warmth, and secmity. 
For these purposes, Wilson observes, he generally 
fixes on the high bending extremities of the branches, 
fastening strong strings of hemp or flax round two 
forked twigs corresponding to the intended width of 
the nest ; with the same materials, mixed with quan- 
tities of loose tow, he interweaves or fabricates a 
strong or firm kind of cloth, not imlike the substance 
of a hat in its raw state, forming it into a pouch of 
six or seven inches in depth, lining it substantiallj'' 
with various soft substances, well interwoven with the 
outward netting; it, lastly, finishes with a layer of 
horsehair ; the whole being shaded from the sun and 
rain by a natural pent-house or canopy of leaves. So 
solicitous is the Baltimore to procirre proper materials 
for his nest, that, in the season of building, the 
women in the country are under the necessitv of nar- 
rowly watching their thread that may chance to be 
out bleaching, and the farmer to secui’e his young 
L 
