COTTON NESTS. 55 



spathes, in a series of three or four, one above 

 another, and agglutinated together, but with a 

 kind of gallery along the side communicating with 

 each. The materials were feathers and silk-cotton. 

 The most downy feathers were placed within, 

 the cotton formed the external lining, and the 

 whole was closely fitted together and cemented 

 by some slimy fluid, probably saliva. With this 

 they were glued to the spathe so strongly, that, in 

 tearing one out, it brought away part of the inte- 

 gument of the spathe. The walls of these nests, 

 though only a quarter of an inch thick, were fitted 

 so closely as to be almost as tenacious as cloth. 

 Some specimens of recent construction had a 

 singular hairy appearance resembling a doll's wig. 

 In shape they looked like the watch-pockets which 

 are hung at the heads of beds ! In height they 

 were about five inches, and in width between three 

 and four. 



The nest of the American prairie-warbler exhi- 

 bits a singular combination of materials in its 

 structure. This little fabric is uncommonly small 

 and delicate. It is attached to three or four blades 

 of tall grass, or hangs pendent between two small 

 sprigs of a slender twig. The external parts are 



