132 



BIRD ARCHITECTS 



the birds leave the nest they pinch the walls of the opening 

 together, and at a time when such is the case, the blind 

 opening would naturally act as a decoy to any marauding 

 snake or field-rat, which might be as good an explanation 

 as the one offered by the blacks. 



The Penduline Tits lay from six to twelve tiny white eggs. 



Fig. 72.— Nest of Cape Penduline Tit. (Photo. Dr. Kirkman.) 



SWALLOWS 



It will now be necessary to make a big jump so far as 

 classification is concerned and turn to the Family Hirun- 

 dinidce (Swallows), whose nests of mud pellets are a familiar 

 enough sight to all. 



