76 THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



sticks on that identical step which alone would give 

 them the best foundation for their intended work. 

 Had they selected either the one above, or the one 

 below this step, it was very evident that they could 

 not have acquired that precise slope or angle for 

 their pillar which was essential to the support of 

 their nest. The step was the eighth below the 

 opening, and from it the pillar was raised to the 

 height of exactly ten feet, and was composed of a 

 strong stack- work of sticks. The nest then rested 

 upon the top of it and was perfectly secure. The 

 labour which these ingenious and industrious birds 

 had bestowed in the collection of so large a mass 

 of sticks must have been enormous. The entrance 

 in the wall by which these materials had all been 

 brought in was very narrow; the difficulty of 

 conveying some of the larger sticks through it 

 must have been consequently great. On ex- 

 amining the sticks, it was evident that each of 

 them had been cracked in the centre, so that they 

 could be doubled up. Seventeen days were occu- 

 pied by the birds in the performance of their 

 laborious task. Unfortunately, the eager curiosity 

 of a number of persons to see this nest and its 

 supporting pillar ultimately led to its desertion 



