238 THE FE,\THT;RKn TRinES. 



and each bird builds its particular nest under this canopy, the upper surface remaining 

 void ; M-ithout, however, being useless ; for as it has a projecting rim and is a little 

 inclined, it serves to let the rain water run off, and preserves each little dwelling from 

 the rain. Figure to yoiu'self a huge, irregular, sloping roof, all the eaves of which are 

 completely covered with nests crowded one against another, and you will have a tolerably 

 accurate idea of these singular edifices. Each individual nest is three or four inches in 

 diameter, which is sufficient for the bird. But as they are all in contact with one another 

 around the eaves, they ajipear to the eye to form but one building, and are distinguishable 

 from each other onlj' by a little external aperture which serves as an entrance to the nest ; 

 and oven this is sometimes common to three different nests, one of which is situated at 

 the bottom and the other two at the sides. According to Patterson, the number of cells 

 increasing in proportion to the increase of inhabitants, the old ones become streets of 

 communication formed by line and level. No doubt, as the republic increases, the cells 

 must bo midtiplied also ; but it is easy to imagine that, as the augmentation can take 

 jilacc only at the surface, the new buildings will necessarily cover the old ones, whicli 

 must therefore be abandoned. Should these even, contrary to all probability, be able to 

 subsist, it may be presumed that the depths of their situation, by preventing any circu- 

 lation and renewal of the air, would render them so extremely hot as to be iminhabitablc. 

 But while they would thus become useless, they woidd remain what the}- were before, 

 real nests, and change neither into streets nor sleeping rooms. 



" The largest nest that I examined was one of the most considerable I liad any wlicro 

 seen in the course of my journey, and contained 820 inhabited cells, which, supposing a 

 male and a female to each, woidd form a society of 640 individuals. Such a calculation, 

 however, woidd not be exact." It appears that in everj^ flock the females are more nume- 

 rous by far than the males ; many cells, therefore, woidd contain only a single bird. 

 Still, the aggregate woidd be considerable ; and, when undisturbed, they might go on to 

 increase, the structure increasing in a like ratio, till a storm, sweeping through the wood, 

 laid the tree and the overwhehning edifice it sustained in one common ruin. 



THE CAP-MORE.* 



This v.'eaver-bird is a native of Senegal, and also of the kingdoms of Congo and 

 Cacoucongo. Like most of the birds inhabiting these burning regions of Africa, its 

 livery varies according to the season. In sjiring, for instance, its head is covered with a 

 sort of capouche, of a reddish bro^vn, which, in the after season, changes to a yellow ; 

 its song is peculiar and very li\ely. Some of these birds, when seen in France, evinced 

 a disposition to nestle, though uncxcitcd by the presence of the female ; they constructed 

 nests with blades of grass or reeds, interlaced in the wires of tlicir cage. It is probable 

 that with care, and the production of a proper degree of warmth, they might be made to 

 multijjly, even in these climates. 



THE TENSn.E GltOSHEAK.f 



The nest of this bird is said to be inferior to some of the fabrics already described, yet 

 it is unquestionably a very curious fabric. The bird composes it of straw and reeds, 

 interlaced with much dex(critj% and susjicnds it to a flexible brandi, on the edge of a 

 rivxdet ; it forms a jjoiicli in the upper part, in whicli (lie eggs are deposited, and fits to 

 this an elongated tunnel, leading downwards, at the end of which the eutranco is 

 situated. When the second brood takes place, the bird attaches a new nest to the 

 former, and so on successix-ely ; five or six hundred of these nests may be sometimes 

 scon, thus suspended to a single tree. The female lays only three eggs. 



• I'loccus Tfxtor. \ I'locous Pensilis. 



