314 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



The nest varies much in the length, both of the upper part or support, 

 and the lower tube or entrance, and the support is generally solid, from 

 the point whence it is hung, for two or three inches, but varies much 

 both in length and strength. 



" When the structure has advanced to the spot where the birds 

 have determined the egg compartment to be, a strong transverse loop 

 is formed, not in the exact centre, but a little at one side. If then 

 taken from the tree and reversed, the nest has the appearance of a 

 basket with its handle *****. Various authors have described this 

 loop, or bar, as peculiar to the male nest, . or sitting nest, whereas it 

 exists primarily in all, and is simply the point of separation between 

 the real nest and the tubular entrance, and, being used as a perch both 

 by the old birds and the young (when grown sufficiently), requires to 

 be very strong. Up to this time both sexes have worked together 

 indiscriminately ; but when this loop is completed, the female takes up 

 her seat on it, leaving the cock bird to fetch more fibre and work from 

 the outside of the nest, while she works on the inside, drawing in the 

 fibres pushed through by the male, re-inserting them in their proper 

 place, and smoothing all carefully. Considerable time is spent in 

 completing this part of the nest, the egg chamber being formed on one 

 side of the loop, and the tubular entrance on the other ; after which 

 there appears to be an interval of rest. It is at this stage of the work, 

 from the formation of the loop to the time that the egg compartment 

 is ready, that the lumps of clay are stuck on, about which there are 

 so many and conflicting theories. The original notion, derived entirely, 

 I believe, from the natives, was that the clay was used to stick fire-flies 

 on, to light up the apartment at night. Layard suggests that the bird 

 uses it to sharpen its bill on. Burgess, that it serves to strengthen 

 the nest. I, of course, quite disbelieve the fire-fly story, and doubt the 

 other two suggestions. From an observation of several nests, the times 

 at which the clay was placed in the nests, and the position occupied, I 

 am inclined to think that it is used to balance the nest correctly, and 

 to prevent its being blown about by the wind. In one nest lately 

 examined, there was about three ounces of clay in six different patches. 

 It is generally believed that the unfinished nests are built by the male 

 for his own special behoof, and that the pieces of clay are more com- 

 monly found in it than in the complete nests. I did not find this the 

 case at Rangoon, where my opportunities of observing the bird were 

 good, and believe rather that the unfinished nests are either rejected 

 from some imperfect construction, weak support, or other causes, if built 

 early in the breeding season ; or, if late, that they are simply the efforts 



