184 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
woven into long sacks, gradually increasing in size towards the bottom, 
with an elongated slit in the side, so constructed as to exclude rain. 
-These wonderful structures are sometimes two yards in length; and 
when numerous, as they hang suspended from the branches of trees, 
give a singularly novel aspect to the landscape. 
Miraculous indeed is the produce of these little workers. Anda 
fresh wonder is how the birds contrive to enter a nest on the wing 
when the opening seems scarcely so large as their body, and yet they 
do so without disturbing a feather. The hut of some savage races 
is left constantly open, their intelligence not suggesting a protecting 
Fig. 76.—Nest of Tailor Bird. 
door. In M. Jeudon’s book on the “Birds of India,” he speaks of a 
bird found there which, when the female Legins to lay, the male 
encloses her in their nest by shutting up tue door with a thick mud 
wall, leaving a small opening only sufficient for the female to breathe 
and receive her food; but we should add that this severe husband 
is not forgetful of his responsibility, but every few minutes conveys 
nourishment to the enclosed prisoner. 
Sonnerat, in his ‘‘ Voyage to India,” speaks of a Cape Tit, the 
nest of which is in the form of a bottle, and composed of cotton. 
While the female hatches the eggs, the male, like a true sentinel, 
maintains a strict watch on a specially-formed resting-place, built 
on one of the sides, Finally, for ingenious construction, instigated 
