134 COMMON BIRDS OF AN INDIAN GARDEN 



In exceptional cases nests may be found fixed 

 between a pair of large, drooping leaves, the 

 surfaces of which form parts of the walls or roof of 

 the bag, and in such circumstances the suspensory 

 cord and the portico over the entrance are omitted, 

 and the structure presents a superficial likeness to 

 a tailor-bird's nest. The omission of the penthouse 

 over the opening, in circumstances in which pro- 

 tection from rain is otherwise secured by the over- 

 arching leaves, affords evidence of a purposive 

 adaptation to environment that seems to imply the 

 exercise of something more than reflex action or 

 hereditary habit. The fabric of the nest consists 

 of a web of fibres of coarse grass with interwoven 

 fragments of dead leaves, and the cavity is lined 

 with a layer of softer materials, such as the pappus 

 of various kinds of grass and the fine cotton of the 

 seeds of the silk-cotton-trees. A nest, whilst incuba- 

 tion is going on, is a pretty sight, for the opening 

 into the cavity is occupied by the head of the 

 sitting bird with its long slender beak projecting 

 and its bright little eyes glancing heedfully around. 

 It is delightful, too, to see how, when one of the 

 birds comes in, it causes the whole fabric to sink 

 and swing as it alights to vanish into the interior, 

 and then immediately turning round, thrusts out 

 its head. Perhaps the prettiest picture of all, how- 

 ever, is to be seen after the young birds have hatched 

 out and the little parents are hanging on to the 



