184 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



woven into long sacks, gradually increasing in size towards the bottom, 

 with an elongated slit in the side ; so constructed as to exclude rain. 

 These wonderful structures are sometimes two yards in length ; and 

 when numerous, as they hang suspended from the branches of trees, 

 give a singularly novel aspect to the landscape. 



Miraculous indeed is the produce of these little workers. And a 

 fresh wonder is how the birds contrive to enter a nest on the wing 

 when the opening seems scarcely so large as their body, and yet they 

 do so without disturbing a feather. The hut of some savage races 

 is left constantly open, their intelligence not suggesting a protecting 



Fig. 76. Nest of Tailor Bird. 



Fig- 77- Nests of Sociable or Republican Birds. 



door. In Dr. Jerdon's book on the "Birds of India," he speaks of a 

 bird found there which, when the female begins to lay, the male 

 encloses her in their nest by shutting up the door with a thick mud 

 wall, leaving a small opening only sufficient for the female to breathe 

 and receive her food ; but we should add that this severe husband 

 is not forgetful of his responsibility, but every few minutes conveys 

 nourishment to the enclosed prisoner. 



Sonnerat, in his " Voyage to India," speaks of a Cape Tit, the 

 nest of which is in the form of a bottle, and composed of cotton. 

 While the female hatches the eggs, the male, like a true sentinel, 

 maintains a strict watch on a specially-formed resting-place, built 

 on one of the sides. Finally, for ingenious construction, instigated 



