THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE, OR HANG-NEST. 
39 
to a twig, with as much art as a sailor might do, and takes up the other end, 
which he secures also, but to another twig a few inches off, leaving the thread 
floating in the air like a swing, the curve of which is perhaps seven or eight 
inches from the twigs. The female comes to his assistance with another 
filament of moss, or perhaps some cotton thread, or other fibrous substance, 
inspects the work which her mate has done, and immediately commences 
her operations, placing each thread in a contrary direction to those arranged 
by her lordly mate, and making the whole cross and recross, so as to form 
an irregular net-work. Their love increases daily as they see the graceful 
fabric approaching perfection, until their conjugal affection and faith become 
as complete as in any species of birds with which I am acquainted. 
The nest has now been woven from the bottom to the top, and so secured 
that no tempest can carry it off without breaking the branch to which it is 
suspended. Kemark what follows. This nest contains no warming sub- 
stance, such as wool, cotton, or cloth, but is almost entirely composed of the 
Spanish moss, interwoven in such a manner that the air can easily pass 
through it. The parents no doubt are aware of the intense heat which will 
exist ere long in this part of the world, and moreover take especial care to 
place their nest on the north-east side of the trees. On the contrary, had 
they gone as far as Pennsylvania or New York, they would have formed it 
of the warmest and softest materials, and have placed it in a position which 
would have left it exposed to the sun’s rays ; the changes in the weather 
during the early period of incubation being sometimes so great there, that 
the bird looks on these precautions as necessary to ensure the life of its 
brood against intense cold, should it come, while it knows that the heat in 
these northern latitudes will not be so great as to incommode them. I have 
observed these sensible differences in the formation and position of the nests 
of the Baltimore Oriole, a great many times, as no doubt have other per- 
sons. The female lays from four to six eggs, and in Louisiana frequently 
rears two broods in a season. The period of incubation is fourteen days. 
The eggs are about an inch in length, rather broadly ovate, pale brown, 
dotted, spotted, and tortuously lined with dark brown. 
The movements of these birds as they run among the branches of trees 
differ materially from those of almost all others. They cling frequently by 
the feet in order to reach an insect at such a distance from them as to re- 
quire the full extension of the neck, body, and legs, without letting go 
their hold. They sometimes glide, as it were, along a small twig, and at 
other times move sidewise for a few steps. Their motions are elegant and 
stately. Their song consists of three or four, or at most eight or ten, 
loud, full, and mellow notes, extremely agreeable to the ear. 
A day or two before the young are quite able to leave the nest, they often 
