FRJNGILLID.E. 237 



tlie entrance of the nest below in a very singular manner. 

 The industry of these birds seems almost equal to that of 

 the bee. Throughout the day they a2)pear to be busily 

 employed in carrying a species of fine grass, which is the 

 principal material tliey employ for the purpose of erecting 

 this extraordinary work, as well as for additions and 

 repaii's. Though my very short stay in the country was 

 not sufficient to satisfy me by ocular proof that they 

 added to their nest as they annually increased in numbers, 

 still, from the many trees that I have seen borne down 

 by the weight, and others which I have observed with 

 their boughs completely covered over, this would appear 

 to Ije really the case. When the tree which is the suj^port 

 of this aerial city is obliged to give way to the increase of 

 weight, it is obvious that they are no longer protected, 

 and are under the necessity of rebuilding in other trees. 

 One of these deserted nests I had the curiosity to break 

 down to inform myself of the internal structure, and 

 found it equally ingenious with that of the external. 

 There are many entrances, each of which forms a regular 

 street, with nests on both sides at about two inches' dis- 

 tance from each other. The grass with which they build 

 is called the Bushman's grass, and I believe the seed of it 

 to be their jDrincipal food, though, on examining their 

 nests, I found the wings and legs of different insects. 

 From every appearance, the nest which I dissected had 

 been inhabited for many years, and some parts were more 

 complete than others. This, therefore, I conceive to be an 

 additional proof that the animals added to it at different 

 times, as they found necessary from the increase of the 

 family, or rather, of the nation or community." 



But the most celebrated of these ingenious architects 

 is the '' Tailor-bird," whose nest is a perfect curiosity. 

 When about to build a cradle for their progeny, the 

 Tailor -birds first select a plant ^\dth large leaves, and 

 then, gathering real cotton from the cotton-plant, spin it 

 into a thread by means of their bill and feet, and literally 

 sew the leaves together so as to form a sort of pensile 

 bag, in which the young are reared. Much obscurity 

 hangs over the true affinities of this little bird ; it is gene- 

 rally known by the name of Sylvia sutoria, or Tailor 

 Warbler. Dr. Latham describes its nest as composed of 

 a single leaf of a fibrous rough texture, about six inches 

 M 3 



