158 
OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 
at, and even untie, hard knots made of tow. In Audu- 
bon's magnificent plates, a nest is represented as formed 
outwardly of the Long-Moss : * where this abounds, of 
course, the labor of obtaining materials must be greatly 
abridged. The author likewise remarks, that the 
whole fabric consists almost entirely of this material, 
loosely interwoven, without any warm lining, a labor 
which our ingenious artist seems aware would be super- 
fluous in the warm forests of the lower Mississippi. A 
female, which I observed attentively, carried off to her nest 
a piece of lamp-wick 10 or 12 feet long. This long string, 
and many other shorter ones, were left hanging out for 
about a week before both the ends were wattled into the 
sides of the nest. Some other little birds, making use of 
similar materials, at times twitched these flowing ends, 
and generally brought out the busy Baltimore from her 
occupation in great anger. 
I may perhaps claim indulgence for adding a little more 
on the biography of this particular bird, as a representa- 
tive also of the instinct of her race. She completed the 
nest in about a week's time, without any aid from her 
mate ; who, indeed, appeared but seldom in her company, 
and was now become nearly silent. For fibrous materials, 
she broke, hackled, and gathered the flax of the Asclepias 
and Hibiscus stalks, tearing off long strings, and flying 
with them to the scene of her labors. She appeared 
very eager and hasty in her pursuits, and collected her 
materials, without fear or restraint, while three men were 
working in the neighbouring walks, and many persons 
visiting the garden. Her courage and perseverance were 
indeed truly admirable. If watched too narrowly, she 
* Tillandsia usneoides. 
