ejecting the fibers
or hairs which he may bring, and sending him off for another load more
to her taste.

Like human builders, the bird improves in nest building by practice,
the best specimens of architecture being the work of the oldest birds,
though some observers deny this.

The eggs are five in number, and their general color is whitish-pink,
dotted at the larger end with purplish spots, and covered at the
smaller end with a great number of fine intersecting lines of the same
hue.

In spring the Oriole's food seems to be almost entirely of an animal
nature, consisting of caterpillars, beetles, and other insects, which
it seldom pursues on the wing, but seeks with great activity among
the leaves and branches. It also eats ripe fruit. The males of this
elegant species of Oriole acquire the full beauty of their plumage the
first winter after birth.

The Baltimore Oriole is one of the most interesting features of
country landscape, his movements, as he runs among the branches of
trees, differing from those of almost all other birds. Watch him
clinging by the feet to reach an insect so far away as to require the
full extension of the neck, body, and legs without letting go his
hold. He glides, as it were, along a small twig, and at other times
moves sidewise for a few steps. His motions are elegant and stately.

THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE.

About the middle of May, when the leaves are all coming out to see the
bright sunshine, you may sometimes see, among the boughs, a bird of
beautiful black and orange plumage.

He looks like the Orchard Oriole, whose picture you saw in May
"Birds." It is the Baltimore Oriole. He has other names, such as
"Golden Robin," "Fire Bird," "Hang-nest." I could tell you how he came
to be called Baltimore Oriole, but would rather you'd ask your teacher
about it. She can tell you all about it, and an interesting story it
is, I assure you.

You see from the picture why he is called "Hang-nest." Maybe you can
tell why he builds his nest that way.

The Orioles usually select for their nest the longest and slenderest
twigs, way out on the highest branches of a large tree. They like the
elm best. From this they hang their bag-like nest.

It must be interesting to watch them build the nest, and it requires
lots of patience, too, for it usually takes a week or ten days to
build it.

They fasten both ends of a string to the twigs between which the nest
is to hang. After fastening many