332 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
for that purpose, and giving to it the shape of a hanging-bag, or old-fashioned 
purse-bag, leaving a hole near the top for entrance, and the interior lined with 
the softest texture. In making its nest the oriole seizes any material suitable 
to the purpose. An anecdote is related to illustrate the bird’s propensity for 
selecting soft lining for the nest. A lady in Connecticut was sitting beside 
an open window sewing, when being called away for a few moments, she 
returned to find that her spool of silk thread and measuring tape were missing. 
Diligent search failed to discover the articles until by accident she saw the tape 
hanging from the nest of an oriole that had built in a tree near by. At the 
expense of much trouble, incited by curiosity, the nest was recovered, when it was 
found that the silk had been woven into it with such dexterity as made it 
impossible to disentangle. The female lays four, five or even six eggs, of a 
light gray color with dark spots and lines, which are hatched in a fortnight. 
Wall-Creeper ( Tichodroma muraria ) is the name given to a very common 
little bird widely distributed over both Europe and America. It seldom perches 
on a branch, but is continuously circumambulating 
the trunk of some tree in industrious search for in¬ 
sects, and is most useful to farmers for the destruction 
it occasions to harmful grubs, caterpillars and noxious 
flies. It nests in April, building in a crevice or hole 
after the manner of woodpeckers, and usually lays five 
eggs of white. Its note is a merry “ chuck-chuck ,” 
but only occasionally uttered, nor does it remain long 
on any tree, but keeps flitting from one to another 
in apparently nervous distraction. It is of a dun 
color on the back, with breast of white. Another 
species, sometimes called speckled woodpecker , and 
fly-snapper , is also plentifully distributed over the 
Northern States, and is equally useful in ridding 
trees of harmful insects. It is considerably larger 
than the wall-creeper , and is handsomely clothed in 
a raiment of white and black, so as to present a 
speckled appearance. Other species include the red¬ 
head woodpecker , yellow-hammer and wood hen , also 
This latter species is a very large bird, almost equal 
to a pigeon, but is nowhere plentiful and is very wary. The color is black, 
with a top-not of scarlet, and has a neck of considerable length which makes 
its crest appear more prominently. It builds its nest always in the dead branch 
of a very tall tree, beyond the reach of interruption, for which reason few of 
its eggs have ever been recovered. The yellow-hammer may be classed among 
our prettiest birds, in a plumage diversified with yellow wings spotted with 
black, a white breast similarly flecked, a black gorget crescent-shaped, and a 
spot of red upon the head. Both the giant woodpecker and the yellow-hammer 
are esteemed for their flesh, but the other species are rejected as being wholly 
unfit for food. Not only is the flesh of nearly all the species unpalatable, but 
they are generally found to be infested with parasites, besides giving off a 
rather offensive odor. The general habits of all the genera are very similar, 
and the birds are so well known to my readers as to render more particular 
description unnecessary. 
WALL-CREEPER. 
called giant woodpecker. 
