230 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



or twenty feet from the ground are often only two 

 or three feet from it when finished, and a thorough 

 soaking by a heavy rain will sometimes weigh them 

 down until they actually touch* They are more or 

 less oval or cylindrical in shape, and commonly 

 about two feet long by twelve or fifteen inches in 

 diameter, and contain from a peck to a bushel of 

 twigs and thorns* The nest-cavity within is small 

 in proportion to the size of the nest, and occupies its 

 upper part. It is reached by a more or less direct 

 passage-way from below, the external opening being 

 very nearly at the lowest part of the nest, though 

 sometimes a little shelf, or even a pocket, is built on 

 to the side, forming a resting-place in front of the 

 door, 



" The nests vary interminably in size and shape, 

 but are pretty constant in the material used ; this 

 being almost always irregular and thorny twigs of 

 various trees growing in the neighbourhood, while 

 the interior is formed of less thorny twigs and with 

 some wool and hair. Usually, also, if the material 

 be at hand, a quantity of old dry horse-droppings is 

 placed loosely on the top of the nest, and gradually 

 becomes felted into it, rendering it more nearly 

 waterproof. In place of this I have frequently found 

 quantities of broken straw, weed-stalks, grass, and 

 even chips ; all doubtless collected from the ridges 

 of drift which the last overflow of the river had left 

 near at hand. So compactly is the whole nest built, 

 that it often lasts more than one year, and may 

 sometimes serve the same pair two successive 



