116 ELECTRIC INFLUENCE. 



Jamaica, July 28, 1841. This we do the rather, 

 as our ornithologists in general have not given 

 to it the attention which it merits, for the rela- 

 tionship between nests and the electrical condi- 

 tion of the atmosphere is a point which we have 

 seldom heard discussed. 



" Naturalists have remarked that in tropical 

 climates there are a greater number of birds 

 that build close nests than in the temperate cli- 

 mate of Europe. In the "West Indian Islands, 

 with the exception of the Pigeon tribes and the 

 Humming-birds (which latter build deep, thick, 

 cottony nests), the nests are almost uniformly 

 circular coverings of dried grass, varied by inter- 

 mingled cotton, moss, and feathers, with an 

 opening from below, or an entrance at the side. 

 The Banana-bird weaves a hammock of fibres, 

 sometimes of horse-hair, deep and purselike, and 

 loosely netted ; the Muscicapa olivacea (a fly- 

 catcher), a hanging cot of withered leaves, straw, 

 moss, fibrous threads, and spider's webs fitted 

 together ; and the Mocking-bird builds in the 

 midst of a mass of wicker-work a neat nest of 

 straw lined with hair. The Woodpecker and 

 the Parrots take to hollow trees ; but I hardly 

 know any arboreal bird beside which constructs 

 any nest that is not wholly covered or domed 

 over. Very many insects that are exposed to 

 the air during their metamorphoses weave co- 

 verings of silk and cotton, in which they lie 

 shrouded, at once impenetrable to moisture, and 



