nature; study — the bird S nest. 211 



What principle of utility does this bird show in forsaking 

 the pure air of the forest for a sooty, dark chimney ? Is it 

 a protection against squirrels, owls and mice ? Notice 

 how their nest is constructed. The twigs are glued to- 

 gether by saliva, and are placed across each other forming 

 a sort of basket work. Every piece is cut off to suit its 

 position in the nest. Here we meet with a very unique 

 piece of bird architecture for which the ingenious builders 

 have selected a site equally anomalous. In the selection 

 of such a site is it not evident that the primary, we may 

 even say the exclusive, motive is that of concealment ? 

 To what extent is nest decoration a superfluity prompted 

 by a taste for the beautiful ? Is not such so-called nest 

 decoration a part of rigid utility and a special effort to 

 evade discovery by harmonizing the exterior of the nest 

 with surrounding objects ? 



Finally let it be noted that certain groups of birds ex- 

 hibit a high degree of flexibility in the facilities they have 

 for adjusting themselves to an abnormal environment, 

 when in their nesting they select discarded cans, crockery, 

 flower-pots, baskets and old hats. On the other hand 

 there are large groups of birds that adhere closely to their 

 native instincts, and are remarkable for the uniformity of 

 their nests. 



National Museum, Washington, D. C. 



At Cambridge, England, there has recently been exhib- 

 ited some living specimens of an exceedingly curious in- 

 sect from Rangoon, brought home by Capt. C. E. Wil- 

 liams. It is related to the mantis and resembles in form 

 and color an azure-blue flower with a black spot in the 

 center that looks like the tube of a corolla. The abdomen 

 is drawn back and is the stem of the blossom. Butterflies 

 and other flower-loving insects alight upon the beautiful 

 bait and are immediately seized and killed. 



