Sites for Birds’ Nests 233 
the wasps attacked us also, and one of our party was severely 
stung by them. We had to leave it hanging up dead in front 
of its nest, whilst its mate flew round and round screaming 
out its terror and distress. I find that other travellers have 
noted the fact of birds building their nests near colonies of 
wasps for protection. Thus, according to Gosse, the grass- 
quit of Jamaica (Spermophila olivacea) often selects a shrub 
on which wasps have built, and fixes the entrance to its 
domed nest close to their cells. Prince Maximilian Neuwied 
states in his Travels in Brazil, that he found the curious 
purse-shaped nest of one of the Todies constantly placed 
near the nests of wasps, and that the natives informed him 
that it did so to secure itself from the attacks of its enemies. 
I should have thought that when building their nests they 
would be very liable to be attacked by the wasps. The 
nests placed in these positions appear always to be domed, 
probably for security against their unstable friends. 
