. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. ICTERID^ 259 The Baltimore Oriole is a distinct success as a l)ird. To begin with, he is a superlatively handsome fellow, and comports himself with the ease and confidence of a prince. Again, though he is not a great musician, like the Mockingbird or the Hermit Thrush, there is real individuality, as well as mere cheerfulness, in the quality of his whistled greeting to those who have ears wherewith to hear what is really worth listen- ing to. And finally, his nest is essentially an ap- propriate and logical doiuicile for a creature who doesn't care
. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. ICTERID^ 259 The Baltimore Oriole is a distinct success as a l)ird. To begin with, he is a superlatively handsome fellow, and comports himself with the ease and confidence of a prince. Again, though he is not a great musician, like the Mockingbird or the Hermit Thrush, there is real individuality, as well as mere cheerfulness, in the quality of his whistled greeting to those who have ears wherewith to hear what is really worth listen- ing to. And finally, his nest is essentially an ap- propriate and logical doiuicile for a creature who doesn't care a fig for the law of gravitation, and never even heard of Sir Isaac Newton. .\11 birds should build their nests after the kind that while my lady toils, my lord does nothing much but sit around and whistle and look gorgeous. Doubtless if he had both, he would have his hands in his pockets meanwhile. Fur- thermore, my lady has shown herself a very practical housewife by making use of materials now at hand, instead of sticking to those which her forbears used for ages. For, previous to the appearance of mere man on the scene, the Orioles had employed plant fibers, grass, and other natural materials in their nest-building. Iler ladyship still uses these materials, but she reinforces the fabric with almost any kind of string or twine available, not to mention strips. Drawing by R. I. Brasher BALTIMORE ORIOLE (J nat. size) A bird whose whistle is as gay as his plumage of the Baltimore's — and many do, notably the Warblers and the Vireos. W'hy should a crea- ture, who is in no more danger of falling than a fish is of drowning, plaster a mass of mud, twigs, and grass on a limb as thick as one's thigh, or in a crotch which would support a five-ton steel safe? Why not sling a stout but dainty ham- mock from twigs which are plenty strong enough, and swing in the breezes? It now becomes necessary to explain that it is my Lady Baltimore, and not his lordship, who is the designer and make
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidbirdsofameri, bookyear1923
