THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 
41 
the sun, using in its construction the long fibres of 
the Spanish moss which it attaches at both ends to 
the forks in a branch, forming a number of loops 
about seven inches in length. When a sufficient 
number of these loops are made, it commences weav- 
ing in an opposite direction with the same material 
until it has produced a strong but open and airy 
pouch or bag, rounded at the bottom, and larger than 
at the top, where an aperture is left just large enough 
to admit of the easy passage of the birds in and out. 
There is no lining to this nest generally, as it is not 
required for warmth. In New York and Pennsyl- 
vania, where the atmosphere is cooler, and where 
there is a frequent occurrence of cold rains, it selects 
warmer materials, such as cotton yarns, hemp, tow, 
hair, wool, pieces of twine, or strings of any kind; 
these it uses in the same manner as its southern 
neighbor, but the texture of the nest, when com- 
plete, is firmer, more compact, and is furnished with 
a warm lining of cow’s hair or wool. Tt is generally 
suspended upon the south side of the tree, where, 
while it can be well protected by the overhanging 
leaves from drenching rains, it is still open to the 
rays of the sun. The long, pendent boughs of the 
willow are a favorite resort of the Oriole, and here 
the female may be seen sitting quietly and at her 
ease with her nest flying in the wind in the midst 
of a violent storm ; but so firmly is her house secured, 
that unless the branch from which it hangs should 
be torn from the tree, she need fear no harm. 
There are two other species of Hanging-bird or 
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