348 BULLETIN 15 5, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



supported by the lower fronds while others were placed around the 

 trunk on the fruiting fronds a few feet below the crown of leaves. 

 The nests were constructed of twigs from half the size of a lead 

 pencil to a little larger, ranging from 250 to 450 mm. in length, 

 with occasional twigs 600 to 750 mm. long. It seemed remarkable 

 that a bird the size of the palm-chat, having the dimension of a 

 cedar waxwing, could rise from the ground to a nest from twelve 

 to fifteen meters from the earth with such burdens. The first nest 

 examined was obviously under construction, and not yet complete. 

 The twigs were interlaced rather loosely particularly at the sides 

 and top. The structure was the size of a bushel basket and was evi- 

 dently occupied by only a few pairs. There was a roughly defined 

 central tunnel 100 to 125 mm. in diameter leading through the mass 

 of sticks from side to side, opening at either end to the outside. 

 Near the end was a slight accumulation of shredded bark that made 

 a little platform on one of which had rested an egg, unfortunately 

 broken. The nest padding was barely sufficient to protect the egg. 

 This nest seemed to have been entirely newly formed and was evi- 

 dently not yet complete. A second structure secured on this day 

 was much larger and had evidently been used the year previous with 

 much material recently added. Eight individual birds were ob- 

 served flying away from it and it appeared to contain four separate 

 units each 450 to 500 mm. in diameter with stick ends projecting in 

 every direction, and the separate sections loosely interwoven about 

 the trunk of the palm. In each unit a tunnel led to a central cham- 

 ber 100 to 125 mm. across with the bottom well filled with fine shreds 

 of bark and other soft materials to form a distinct cup. Though 

 each nest was a separate unit with its own portal to the exterior 

 there were roughly defined channels or passages running through 

 the interlacing twigs at the top of the nests that could permit the 

 birds to creep about under cover. The separate nests were very 

 compact so that it was necessary to cut and break away the twigs to 

 get at the interior. Subsequent examination of a number of other 

 completed nests indicated that this was the normal type of con- 

 struction, each communal structure consisting of several separate 

 compartments opening separately to the outside. The twigs used 

 in construction were usually slightly smaller in diameter than a lead 

 pencil and were dead twigs of light wood, coffee and orange twigs 

 being usual in the lowlands. The nest lining was always the small- 

 est possible amount of fine grass and shredded bark that would 

 serve to support the eggs. (PI. 24.) 



Though each pair occupied a separate domicile in a common struc- 

 ture, that may be likened to an apartment house, work on this domi- 

 cile was carried on to some extent in common as it was not unusual 



