THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE, OR HANG-NEST. 
masses that spread from branch to branch over the cypress trees. Th& 
dejected Indian’s camp lies in your sight. He casts a melancholy glance 
over the scene, and remembers that he is no longer the peaceful and sole 
possessor of the land. Islands, one after another, come in sight, and at every 
winding of the stream you see boats propelled by steam ascending the river, 
and others, without such aid, silently gliding with the current. 
Much might the traveller find to occupy his mind, and lead him into 
speculations regarding the past, the present, and the future, were he not 
attracted by the clear mellow notes that issue from the woods, and gratified 
by the sight of the brilliant Oriole now before you. In solitudes like these, 
the traveller might feel pleased with any sound, even the howl of the wolf, 
or the still more dismal bellow of the alligator. Then how delightful must 
it be to hear the melody resulting from thousands of musical voices that 
come from some neighbouring tree, and which insensibly leads the mind, 
with whatever it may previously have been occupied, first to the contempla- 
tion of the wonders of nature, and then to that of the Great Creator himself. 
Now we have ascended the mighty river, have left it, and entered the 
still more enchanting Ohio, and yet never for a day have we been without 
the company of the Oriole. Here, amongst the pendulous branches of the 
lofty tulip-trees , it moves gracefully up and down, seeking in the expanding 
leaves and opening blossoms the caterpillar and the green beetle, which 
generally contribute to its food. Well, reader, it was one of these pendu- 
lous twigs which I took when I made the drawing before you. But instead 
of having cut it on the banks of the Ohio, I found it in the State of Louisi- 
ana, to which we shall return. 
The Baltimore Oriole arrives from the south, perhaps from Mexico, or 
perhaps from a more distant region, and enters Louisiana as soon as spring 
commences there. It approaches the planter’s house, and searches amongst 
the surrounding trees for a suitable place in which to settle for the season. 
It prefers, I believe, the trees that grow on the sides of a gentle declivity. 
The choice of a twig being made, the male Oriole becomes extremely con- 
spicuous. He flies to the ground, searches for the longest and driest filaments 
of the moss, which in that State is known by the name of Spanish beard, 
and whenever he finds one fit for his purpose, ascends to the favourite spot 
where the nest is to be, uttering all the while a continued chirrup, which 
seems to imply that he knows no fear, but on the contrary fancies himself 
the acknowledged king of the woods. This sort of chirruping becomes 
louder, and is emitted in an angry tone, whenever an enemy approaches, or 
the bird is accidentally surprised ; the sight of a cat or a dog being always 
likely to produce it. No sooner does he reach the branches, than with bill 
and claws, aided bj an astonishing sagacity, he fastens one end of the moss 
