260 



THE COMMUNITIES OF BIRDS 



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The description given by Paterson appeared fabulous , but it has 

 been confirmed by Levaillant, who frequently encountered in Africa, 



_- studied, and investigated the strange 



community. The engraving given in 



the " Ai'chitecture of Birds" enables the 



'^ reader more readily to comprehend his 



' narration. It is the image of an im- 



mense umbrella planted on a tree, and 



shading under its common roof more 



than three hundred habitations. " I 



caused it to be brought to me," says 



Levaillant, " by several men, who set it 



on a vehicle. I cut it with an axe, 



and saw that it was in the main a mass 



*. of Booschmannie grass, without any 



\ \J^ ^ ' mixture, but so strongly woven together 



1 1^^ ' t.hat it was impossible for the rain to 



^ penetrate. This is only the framework 

 of the edifice ; each bird constructs for 

 himself a separate nest under the com- 

 mon pavilion. The nests occupy only tlie 

 leverse of the roof; the upper part remains 

 empty, without, however, being useless ; for, 

 raised more than the remainder of the pile, 

 it gives to the whole a sufficient inclination, 

 and thus preserves each little habitation. 

 In two words, let the reader figure to him- 

 self a gTcat oblique and iiTCgular roof, whose 

 edge in the interior is garnished with nests ranged 

 close to one another, and he will have an exact 

 idea of these singular edifices. 



" Each nest is three or four inches in dia- 

 meter, which is sufficiently large for the bird ; 

 but as they are in close contact around the roof, they appear to the 



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