One egg is dropped daily, until the complement is complete, and but one set is usually deposited 
during the season. Incubation lasts about fourteen days; the female performs the task alone. 
DIFFERENTIAL POINTS: 
For differences between the nests and eggs of the Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, see Icterus spurius. 
REMARKS : 
No attempt has been made to describe this most ingenious nest, believing that an examination of 
the plate will give a better idea of its construction than could possibly be had from words. 
The nest figured was taken from the branches of an elm, which stands by the sidewalk of a village 
street. It was commenced the second week in May, 1874, and occupied both birds about ten days. 
It is composed principally of strings and fibres of flax, many of which are more than thirty inches in 
length; a few horse hairs are woven in near the mouth. Oviposition was begun the day following its 
completion. Only one of the eggs figured was taken from this set. The specimens represent the 
extreme and average sizes. 
The statement has been made that in the South the nests, which are there constructed of “Spanish 
moss,” are built upon the north side of the trees; while farther North they are uniformly placed upon 
the south side. A careful examination of a number of nests in this State has shown that the points of 
the compass have no influence whatever upon position: they are here found indiscriminately upon the 
north, south, east and west side of trees, and all points between. 
It has also been asserted as probable that a marked change has taken place, since the States 
have become thickly settled, in the size and shape of this nest. The plate in Mr. Audubon’s work 
shows a structure with the opening in the side, instead of at the top, as they are now constructed in 
this latitude. Accordingly, it is argued that this was formerly the usual shape ; that the covering has 
been dispensed with since civilization has so reduced their enemies that it is no longer needed to conceal 
their bright colors. The same writers state that at the present time, in cities and villages and near 
farm houses, the nests are made much more shallow than in the woods, where there is greater danger 
from the attacks of hawks and other birds, than in the neighborhood of man. 
Mr. Gentry, on the other hand, in remarking upon a nest “composed almost entirely of the hairs of 
the horse and cow,” and “so slight in texture that it can readily be seen through,” says: “It is evident 
that in days of primitive gloom, and even at the present time in thickly-wooded sections, a very dense 
nest is not at all desirable, since the birds obtain the required protection from the weather in the beau- 
tiful covering which nature throws over them. Now, in sections wliei'e the forests have disappeared by 
the strokes of the pioneer’s axe, such shelter would not afford the comfort and security which the 
inmates demand. Birds not being slow to discern what best comports with their security, certainly 
this oriole which displays so much good taste and ingenuity, would readily perceive that a more 
compact and denser structure would be more desirable.” Again, in speaking of a roofed nest composed 
of strings, he says: “In this anomalous form of nest still further improvement is manifested in the 
closely-woven roof. In open nests, protection is partially secured by the cluster of leaves that depend 
from above; the site being, doubtless, selected with a view to this natural arrangement.” 
Whatever of value there may be in these contradictory statements is not to be discussed here; 
suffice it to say that a close observation, during a number of years, has clearly established the fact that, 
at least in Ohio and Western New York, some of the deepest and best-concealed nests are built in vil- 
lages, or near houses, where strings are abundant ; and some of the most shallow — maajy measuring 
barely three inches — are built in uncultivated and wild districts. 
The depth and beauty of a nest, therefore, seems to depend more upon the materials at hand, the 
experience, genius and hurry of the workers, than upon any other circumstances, each pair of birds 
shaping their home after their own ideas, as far as possible. 
Lj'V'l' 
42 
