VARIATIONS IN BUILDING. 35 
of these nests which we have seen, we never met 
with one covered in at top with any sort of material 
piled up for the purpose by the bird, though we have 
often observed a tuft of grass, a layer of naturaj 
grown moss, or part of the root of a tree projecting 
over it. 
Some ground builders, which collect few or ne 
materials, are remarkable for the care they display 
in selecting a convenient locality. In the nest of a 
peahen, for example, which we lately examined 
we observed that the mother bird had taken care te 
choose a very sheltered spot, the nest bein’ over. 
hung by a low branch of a spruce fir, which was 
suspended over it like an umbrella, and completely 
protected it from rain and dew. Another circum- 
stance was still more remarkable. It is well known 
that female birds for the most part wear off a con: 
siderable portion of the feathers from their breasts 
by their frequent movements in turning their eggs. 
Now, as her eggs were placed on the bare earth, no 
grass growing under the drip of the spruce branch, 
the breast of our peahen must soon have been rub- 
bed bare of feathers. Foreseeing this event, as it 
would appear, the careful creature prepared a soft 
cushion of dry grass, upon which her breast might 
rest. This cushion was placed on the most exposed 
side of the nest, but no part of it under the eggs 
themselves. 
CHAPTER III. 
MASON BIRDS. 
Wuen the least civilized savages take possession 
of a natural cavern or the hollow of a tree to shel- 
