IN JAVA. 



57 



deserted from the breakin^i; of one or more of their eorjrs, after 

 incubation Lad progressed some way ; in others, where there 

 was only one chick, there was often one eg^^ which liad been 



cracked and become dried np, so that even with all their 

 acute architectural devices the wind appears to wreck the 

 hopes of the little buildem 



What can be the use of the mud in the Weaver-birds' nests 

 has often been discussed. 3Ir. E. L, Layard, the accurate 



TWO 



that 



observer and ^vell-kno^Yn ornithologist, has suggested * ' 

 these lumps of mud Avere used as scrapers on ^vhich to clean 

 the birds' bills "; but if in the nests I found here they were 

 used for this purpose, it must have been only at the commence- 

 ment of their task, for the layer of mud would be quite con- 

 cealed at an early stage of their nest-build. ng. I am more 

 inclined to the belief that they are to weight aud balance 

 the nest, from having found loose among the lower stems 

 unfinished portions, ^hich were evidently the foundations of 



* Nature, Dec. 1879. 



