252 THE STORY OF THE BIRDS 



feathers, &c., which it places on a branch near 

 the stem, or even on trellis-work or masonry, 

 whilst the Pied species selects a hole in a tree 

 in which to hide its nest, made of similar 

 materials. Similar diversity of nest-building is 

 presented by the Warblers, some of these birds 

 making flimsy net-like nests of bents and hair, 

 which are attached to twigs or reeds or con- 

 cealed amongst vegetation, whilst others (as the 

 Willow Wrens) make globular structures lined 

 with feathers, which they place amongst the 

 herbage. On the other hand the architecture 

 of some species is remarkably uniform. The 

 Dippers, for instance, occupying a vast geo- 

 graphical area, build but one type of nest, 

 a domed structure of moss, grass and leaves. 

 This uniformity may be due either to the great 

 similarity of conditions of life to which all the 

 members of the family are exposed, or to their 

 somewhat ancient origin ; for we generally find 

 the least diversity of architecture in the older 

 groups. In the Larks the type of nest — an 

 open cup-shaped structure made of grass, bents, 

 and dead leaves, lined with hair — is remarkably 

 uniform, and generally made on the ground 

 amongst herbage ; but some of the species 

 (Mirafra) build domed structures. The Wagtails 



