THl'l WIvVVKH lilllDS. 



235 



considered poisonous, is ouc of its most common fous ; and it is genevally I'ouud npuu 

 trees, to which it resorts for the purpose of catching birds, upon which it delights to 

 feed. The presence of a specimen iu a tree is generally soon discovered by the birds of 

 the neighbourhood, who collect around it, and fly to and fro, uttering the most fearful 

 sounds, mitil some one, more terror-stricken than the rest, actually skims along so as to 

 touch its lips, and, as a fly will destroy itself in the flame of a candle, becomes, almost 

 without resistance, a prey to its enemy. During these proceedings, the snake may 

 usually be observed with its head raised about ten or twelve inches above the branch 

 round whicli its body and tail arc entwined, with its mouth open, and its neck 

 inflated, as if anxiously endeavouring to increase the terror which it would almost 

 appear it was aware would, sooner or later, bring within its grasp one ol' the feathered 

 group. 



THK nOTTI.E-NESTED SPARROW. 



Forbes describes another interesting species, under the name of Baya, or Bottle-nested 

 sparrow, " which," he says, " is remarkable for its pendent nest, brilliant plumage, and 

 uncommon sagacity. These birds are found in most parts of Hindostan ; in shape they 

 resemble the sparrow, as also in the brown feathers of the back and wings ; the head and 

 breast are of a bright yellow, and, in the rays of a tropical sun, have a splendid appear- 

 ance when flying by thousands in the same grove. They make a chirping noise, but 

 have no song; they associate in large commimities, and cover extensive clumps of 

 palmyras, acacias, and date trees, witii their nests. These are formed in a very ingenious 

 manner by long grass woven together in the shape of a bottle, and suspended by the 

 other end to the extremity of a flexible branch, the more efiectually to secure the eggs 

 and young brood from serpents, monkeys, squirrels, and birds of prey. These nests 

 contain several apartments appropriated to diflbrent pm-poses : in one the hen performs 

 the oSice of incubation ; another, consisting of a little thatched roof, and covering a 

 perch, without a bottom, is occupied by the male, who, witli his chirping note, cheers the 

 female during her maternal duties. 



THE ABYSSINIAN GROSBE-Uv. 



This bird has been represented as a variety of the Philippine grosbeak, but it mord 

 probably constitutes a distinct genus. It is a native, as its name denotes, of Abyssinia, 

 and gives to its nest a diflerent form from that of the bird just mentioned, and displays 

 rather more industry in its precautious for sheltering its oflspring from the humidity of 

 the weather and the voracity of its enemies. It rolls its nest in a spiral form, not unlike 

 the shell of the nautilus, suspends it to the extremity of some Kttlc branch over a placid 

 stream, and fixes the entrance in the lower part ; but the aperture is always on the 

 eastern side, in opposition to the diiection of the rain. 



THE LOXIA BENG.tLENSIS. * 



This species inhabits India. The bird constructs its nest of vegetable fibres, which it 

 interlaces in such a manner as to form a sort of purse, of which the engraving gives an 

 exact representation. It suspends its nest on the higher branches of trees overhanging 

 rivers ; and the entrance is observable at the lower end. The first year the nest is a 



* C'ocotlu-auates CluT-socephala.— Vieil. 



