260 THE STORY OF THE BIRDS 



of these pensile nests a guard is woven to prevent 

 the contents from falling out during high winds. 

 Sometimes great numbers may be seen hanging 

 from -a single tree ; whilst in Burma there are 

 few thatched houses without many of these 

 hanging nests dangling from the eaves. The 

 American Hang-nests (Icteridae) build very 

 similar pensile nests, varying in form from 

 nearly globular to almost every variety of retort 

 or bottle shape, some being as much as a yard 

 or even more in length. In some species the 

 nests are slung like hammocks, in others, especially 

 in the South American Cassiques, they hang like 

 long-necked flagons from the trees. These nests 

 are made of various wiry grasses, fibres, moss, 

 and hair. In some cases the outside of the nest 

 is attached to some convenient twig, the better 

 to steady it and prevent the contents from being 

 spilled. It has probably occurred to the reader 

 ere this that these penduline nests suspended 

 from tapering branches and drooping leaves are 

 a very frequent type in tropical countries, and 

 are made by many remotely related species. 

 They unquestionably serve the common purpose 

 of protecting their contents from the attacks of 

 snakes and monkeys and other predatory crea- 

 tures, so that their singular beauty is purely a 

 utilitarian one. 



