Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-08-22
birds have been wise enough to change
their rnode~of life. \
..issery=uertain- rhat-a few =hundrrd

tits Sery=eertain thaf=I few hundrp,
Years ago orioles could have knoII
nothing abont string orcarpetraSelings
| and must lfave confined themselves i,
such stringy fibers as can be found in
natural state: and those orioles whicl
build their nests. at distance from
houses. still make use of grass, flax, th'
/ flbres of silk-weed. and other thing
they are able TO find; but of course :
much stronger and more durable mes
can be woven from strong thread ant
string, and the birds have not been slow
to discover this and TO act accordi Iyly
A few years ago Pouchet, a Froncl
naturalist. who was then engaged il
writing a book upon natural history
wished TO have an engraving made
the nest of the common European house
martin. The nests in his collection
were nearly fifty years old, and, think
ing that the artist would be able to
make much better picture from new
and perfect nest than from an old one,
he employed a man to collect a number
from the walls of the houses in Paris.
Upon comparing these with the old
nests in his collection, Pouchet found
that there had been a very great i'm
proyement in the architecture of these
birds within the last five years. lie
says that the old nests are globular. OF
forming segment of a sphere with a
very small rounded opening, just large
enough to allow the passage of the birds
inhabiting it; and the accounts of all
the ancient writers agree in describing
this a. the form of the nest i'm their
day. The new nest is in the form of the
quarter of a hollow semi. i.oval, this Civ
ing three flat surfaces for attachment
instead of one, and affording much
more room on the floor of the nest.
The opening is no longer a round hole,
but a long transverse slit, between the
upper edge of the nest and the wall of
the building to which it is attached,
thus allowing the young to put their
heads out and enjoy the fresh air, with
out interfering with the entrance and
exit of the parents. VI. Prouchet SAYS
that, besides the advantages of more
room inside the nest. increased facilities
for access and greater strength, it is
also more secure from the invasion of
enemies, and better protected from the
IL :,
decided Improvement upon the old
form.
Many of the naturaii>t> who have
studied the habits of birds with the
greatest care have satisfied themselves
that young birds are not as skilful a
the old. Nearly one hundred and fifty
years ago Lerory. French naturalist
who spent his life in studying the habits
of the wild animals of Europe, published
a book, which has lately been translated
into English, on the Intelligence and
Perfectibility of Animals" In this
book he says that it i impossible that a
constant and attentive observer should
fail to remark that the nests of young
birds are almost invariably ill-made and
badly situated. He also shows that the
best and most complicated nests are
made by those species of birds whose
young remain long time in the nest,
and thus have more opportunity to see
how il i made. Wilson. the ornitholo-
gist, who spent his life in studying the
habits of our birds. reached the same
there is very percep-
tible inferiority in the nests of young
birds.-.N. Nicholas.