V .. N E S T S, &c. 51 



IN the forefts of hot countries, among the firft (Irange objefts that excite 

 curiofity, is the multitude qf birds* nefts hanging at the extremity 

 of almoft every branch. Many kinds of birds build in this manner ; 

 but as the chief of them are of the woodpecker kind, we fhall here de- 

 fcribe the mod remarkable. In thefe folitary forefts, man is but feldom 

 feen; the little bird has therefore nothing to apprehend from man; buc is 

 fatisfied if its neft be out of the reach of thofe rapacious animals that live 

 by robbery and furprife. The monkey and the fnake 7nuJ} be guarded 

 againft, the bird has no other' enemies to fear^ 



On one of thefe immenfe trees, is feen the moft various, and the moil 

 inimical aflemblage of creatures that can be imagined. The top is inha- 

 bited by monkies of fome particular tribe, that drive off all others; lower 

 down twine about the great trunk numbers of the largelt fnakes, patiently 

 waiting till fome unwary animal combes within reach j and at the extremes 

 of the branches hang nefts in great abundance. 



The C A ROUGE of the Weft Indies makes it of a kind of mofs, called 

 by the Englifh inhabitants of thefe countries old man's beard. It is fibrous, 

 not unlike horfe-'hair, which bears being moulded into any form, and 

 fufFers being glued together. This, therefore, the bird firft glues by 

 fome vifcous fubftance, to the extreme branch of a tree ; then building 

 downward, the neft depends in fecurity. 



The TovcNAM-couR VI of the Philippine iflands builds its neft of little 



fibres interlaced together, fo as to form a kind of bag, open on one fide j 



to this opening is adapted a long funnel, or tube, compofed of the fame 



•kind of fibres, hanging down, and opening below, fo that the true 



entry to the neft is not feen j thefe nefts are hung at the end of branches. 



The Bagla]? ECHT is an Abyffinian bird, which rolls its neft fpirally, 

 much like thefliell of a nautilus; he hangs it at the end of a branch, almoft 

 always over a ftanding water j the entrance is always turned from the 

 rainy quarter, thereby guarding againft wet, as well as enemies. To 

 attain the fame advantages, the Gross-beak of Abyflinia makes his neft 

 pyramidal, turns its opening from the rainy quarter, and alfo divides the 

 cavity of the pyramid by a partition, forming, as it were, two chambers ; 

 the firft, where is the entry ; then he defcends under his divifion into the 

 fecond, where is the neft ; fo that let the rain or wind be ever fo violent, 

 it cannot reach the eggs. 



Some birds glue thtir neft to the leaf of the banana-tree, which makes 

 two fides of their little habitation ; while the other two are artificially com- 

 pofed by their own induftry. Thus their nefts hang before the fpoilers 

 a temptation, but beyond their acquifition, 



OF 



