BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 
179 
Almost the whole genus of orioles belong to America, 
and, with a few exceptions, build pensile nests. Few 
of them, however, equal the Baltimore in the construc- 
tion of these receptacles for their young, and in giving 
them, in such a superior degree, convenience, warmth, 
and security. For these purposes he generally fixes on 
the high bending extremities of the branches, fastening 
strong strings of hemp or flax round two forked twigs, 
corresponding to the intended width of the nest ; with 
the same materials, mixed with quantities of loose tow, 
he interweaves or fabricates a strong firm kind of cloth, 
not unlike the substance of a hat in its raw state, form- 
ing it into a pouch of six or seven inches in depth* 
lining it substantially with various soft substances, well 
interwoven with the outward netting, and, lastly, finishes 
with a layer of horse hair ; the whole being shaded 
from the sun and rain by a natural pent-house, or canopy 
of leaves. As to a hole being left in the side for the 
young to be fed and void their excrements through, as 
Pennant and others relate, it is certainly an error : I 
have never met with any thing of the kind in the nest 
of the Baltimore. 
Though birds of the same species have, generally 
speaking, a common form of building, yet, contrary to 
the usually received opinion, they do not build exactly 
in the same manner. As much difference will be found 
in the style, neatness, and finishing of the nests of the 
Baltimores, as in their voices. Some appear far supe- 
rior workmen to others : and probably age may improve 
them in this, as it does in their colours. I have a 
number of their nests now before me, all completed, 
and with eggs. One of these, the neatest, is in the form 
of a cylinder, of five inches diameter, and seven inches 
in depth, rounded at bottom. The opening at top is 
narrowed, by a horizontal covering, to two inches and 
a half in diameter. The materials are flax, hemp, tow, 
hair, and wool, woven into a complete cloth ; the whole 
tightly sewed through and through with long horse 
hairs, several of which measure two feet in length. 
The bottom is composed of thick tufts of cow hair, 
