CHAPTER VII 



THEIR REPRODUCTION (NESTS) 



The unique character of birds' nests The architecture of 

 Ratitae Birds The nests of the Kingfishers The Horn- 

 bills The Swifts Edible nests The nests of the 

 Humming-Birds Nests of the Passeriformes Great 

 variety in the nests of the Passeres Variation of nest- 

 type in the same species Uniformity in the nests of 

 species The architecture of the Wrens Of the Swal- 

 lows Of the Finches Of the Starlings, Shrikes, Wax- 

 wings, Orioles, and Goldcrests Nests of the Tropical 

 Oscines In the Timeliidae The Tailor Bird Nests 

 of the Bulbuls, Cuckoo Shrikes, Drongos, and Green- 

 lets Of the Birds of Paradise Of the Sun-Birds Of 

 the Flower-peckers and Sugar Birds Of the Wood 

 Warblers and Tanagers Of the Weaver Birds Of the 

 Ox Birds and Hang-nests Of the Broadbills Of the 

 Pittas Of the Tyrant Birds Of the Cotingas and 

 Plant-cutters The nest of the Oven Birds The archi- 

 tecture in the Wood Hewer family Of the Ant Thrushes 

 Of the Lyre Birds Nest of the Hammer-Head 

 Nests of the Mound Birds Of the Brush Turkeys 

 Of certain Coursers Of the Rails, Ducks, and Geese 

 Of the Flamingoes The utility of nests The nest 

 in relation to the colour of the plumage Instinct or 

 imitation in nest-building. 



THE beautiful songs, the curious cries and sounds, 

 the varied posturings, antics, gestures, and aerial 



gambols of birds, described in the previous chapter, 



243 



