40 
THE CONDOR 
I VOL. V 
structure that is marvelous. In general the material is the same in all: dry grass, 
shreds of willow or inner cottonwood bark, fine weed stems, horsehair, string, etc., 
with a lining of soft grasses, and down from the willow or cottonwood piled in, thick 
and soft. Sometimes the down will be worked into the outside of the nest as well, 
with pleasing effect. As a rule there is not much variation between 
the various nests of the different types, but occasionally so’ne rare 
genius goes beyond his fellows and evolves a structure beautiful and unique. 
Three of these extra-ordinary nests are herein described. 
When first seen by me the first nest was, without exception, the most beauti- 
ful nest of this species I ever saw. It was taken from a white oak tree, quite an 
unusual location in this section, and was near the end of a small drooping branch 
about fifteen feet from the ground. 'I'lie twigs to which it was attached formed a 
fork, and a few inches above, another small twig extended downward in the same 
direction. The ne.st was wholly suspended from these, the twigs, with some of 
the leaves attached 
for a little distance 
back. With these ex- 
three long horse hairs 
ly of wild oats and 
A few of the oat 
inside where they 
nest itself, but almost 
the long stems being 
heads which stood 
graceful fringe all 
from one to three 
effect was striking 
unfortunately much 
stroyed a large part 
tograph could be se- 
sions in inches are as 
side (extreme) 14; 
to opening, 8; depth 
diameter outside, 7; 
circumference 21. 
ments are of the nest 
elude the fringe of 
AVERAGE NEST OF BULLOCK ORIOLE. 
AND NEST NO 3 (rIGHt). 
being worked into it 
down the sides and 
ceptions and two or 
it was composed whol- 
rather loosely woven, 
heads show on the 
were worked into the 
all are on the outside, 
worked into their 
out in a beautiful and 
around and below for 
inches or more. The 
and unusual. Very 
handling had de- 
of these before a pho- 
cured. The dimen 
follows: Depth out- 
depth outside (front) 
inside to opening 5^; 
diameter inside, 4; 
'I'hese measure- 
proper and do not in- 
oat heads. The open- 
ing is rather triangular in shape from the position andangles of the supporting 
twigs and is rather more than an inch greater from front to rear than from side to 
side. The back is built up into the fork and nearly to the branch itself and is six 
inches higher than in front. 
If birds have an eye for the beautiful in their homes, as well as for utility, 
(and who can say that they do not?) then surely the architects of this structure 
were thorough artists. It would be hard to conceive of an oriole’s nest more 
artistic or generally pleasing in effect. 
The second nest stands rather in a class by itself, being neither pensile nor 
semipensile in form, and is the only nest of the species I ever saw that was built 
in that way. It is more like the nests of the other branches of the Icteridse, and 
it is hard to believe it is an oriole’s nest at all. It is supported almost wholly 
from the base, one side being built squarely over a small branch which crosses a 
little to one side of the middle. The other side is supported at the very top by a 
