Wallaces Theory, 105 



tute. The materials are then woven in a manner 

 peculiar to each species, so that the nest of the 

 bird, in very many cases, can be as certainly known 

 when found deserted as it would be with the bird 

 upon it. And when a new bird is discovered and 

 its nest is found, that is described with nearly the 

 same expectation on the part of the Naturalist 

 that all other birds of that species will nest in the 

 same manner, as that they will produce eggs of the 

 same size, form and color. The character of the 

 nest depends not only upon the material used but 

 upon the form and the method in which the mate- 

 rial is combined. The theory is broached by Wal- 

 lace,* that the young bird studies the nest, and so 

 builds by imitation. To say nothing of the want 

 of observation which he shows in talking of the 

 young birds as coming back to the nest, which sel- 

 dom, if ever, happens among birds that build open 

 nests, as the large majority of birds do,— he seems 

 to overlook the fact that skill in combining the ma- 

 terials for the nest, is the marvel. It is not so much 

 that the bird knows how the nest is made as that 

 she is able to make the nest at all,— especially that 

 certain kinds of birds are able to build such com- 

 plicated nests the first time the attempt is made. 

 Let Mr. Wallace study the nest of a Baltimore Oriole 

 or of a Chipping-sparrow twice as long as the young 

 birds remain in it, even counting the days before 

 their eyes are open, and let him then go to work 

 with all the implements the most skilful mechanic 



* " Natural Selection," pp. 223-3. 

 5* 



