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4 THE CONDOR ] VoL. V structure that is marvelous. In general the material is the same in all: dry grass, shreds of willoxv or inner cottonwood bark, fine weed stems, horsehair, string, etc., with a lining of soft grasses, and down from the willow or cottonwood piled in, thick and soft. Sometimes the down will be worked into the outside of the nest as well, with pleasing effect. As a rule there is not much variation between the various nests of the different types, but occasionally some rare genius goes beyond his fellows and evolves a structure beautiful and unique. Three of these extra-ordinary nests are herein described. When first seen by me the first nest xvas, without exception, the most beauti- ful nest of this species I ever saw. It was taken from a white oak tree, quite an unusual location in this section, and was near the end of a small drooping branch about fifteen feet from the Rround. The twigs to xvhich it was attached formed a fork. and a few inches above, another small twig extended downward in the same direction. The nest xvas wholly suspended from these, the twigs, with some of the leaves attached being worked into it for a little distance back. With these ex- three long horse hairs ly of wild oats and A few of the oat inside where they nest itself, but almost the long stems beinR heads which stood graceful fringe all from one to three effect was striking unfortunat.ely much stroyed a large part tograph could be se- sions in inches are as side (extreme) z4; to opening, 8; depth diameter outside. 7; circumference 2 L ments are of the nest dude the fringe of AVER4GE NEST OF I?UI. LOCK ORIOLE, AND NEST NO 3 (RIGHT). down the sides and ceptions and two or it was composed whol- rather loosely woven. heads show on the were worked into the all are on the outside, worked into their out in a beautiful and around and below for inches or more. The and unusual. Very handling had de- of these before a pho- cured. The dimen follows: Depth out- depth outside (front) inside to opening 5)?; diameter inside, 4; These measure- proper and do not in- oat heads. The open- ing is rather triangular in shape from the position andangles of the supporting twigs and is rather more than an inch greater from front to rear than from side to side. The back is built up into the fork and nearly to the branch itself and is six inches higher than in front. If birds have an eye for the beautiful in their homes, as well as for utility, (and who can say that they do not?) then surely the architects of this structure were thorough artists. It would be hard to conceive of an oriole's nest more artistic or generally pleasing in effect. The second nest stands rather in a class by itself, being neither pensile nor semipensile in form, and is the only nest of the species I ever saw that xvas built in that way. It is more like the nests of the other branches of the Icterid?e, and it is hard to believe it is an oriole's nest at all. It is supported almost wholly from the base, one side being built squarely over a small branch which crosses a little to one side of the middle. The other side is supported at the very top by a