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terpoise to the weight of the parent and young, 

 thus keeping it evenly balanced. How these 

 stones are raised up is a mystery, but such is 

 the fact. In these instances, the twig runs 

 through the nest between the cup and the stone- 

 laden projection. Hence, it is evident that a 

 counterpoise, by way of keeping it steady, is at 

 least desirable. Three nests are before us, 

 which we will describe, as they differ from each 

 other very decidedly. It is not clear to what 

 species they respectively belong. The first is 

 built amidst the slender coronal stems of a spe- 

 cies of bamboo, which support it all round, and 

 effectually prevent its dislodgment, however the 

 bamboo may bend to the breeze, while the leaves 

 form a canopy above. The nest is cup-shaped, 

 constructed of interwoven filaments of moss, 

 lined with down, and coated externally with 

 grey lichen, held together by webs 



The second, belonging to one of the genus 

 Phaethornis, is attached by webs to the end of a 

 long flag-leaf. It is conical in form, of a very 

 loose or open texture, consisting of vegetable 

 fibres, webs, bits of moss, &c., with a very slight 

 lining. It was brought from Brazil, where the 

 need of a dense warm nest is perhaps less neces- 

 sary than in colder latitudes, or in elevated 

 situations. 



The third is a pendent nest also, attached to 

 the slight waving stem of a frond of fern, over 

 which other fronds hang in graceful luxuriance. 



