570 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



The bulk of them were of the retort shape, set with a long-necked orifice 

 hanging downward, but a considerable number, of the progressionist party 

 perhaps, had inaugurated a new fashion by inverting the retort and short 1 

 ening the neck, giving the doorway an upward and forward entrance, 

 which, if more enticing to depredators, may perhaps be less awkward to 

 the owners." 



Still another type must be referred to. In the background of Figure 

 421 the reader will see a couple of curious roofs in the tree. These are 

 the coverings constructed by the sociable weaver-birds of South Africa, 

 and beneath them the nests of the colony are hung close together, some- 

 times as many as forty being covered by a common roof. This roof, which 

 is constructed by the whole colony, and which is very heavy and strong, 

 not only protects the nests from the rain, but also prevents any enemy 

 getting access from above. A snake, for instance, might climb the tree 

 and get upon the roof, but he would find difficulty in turning the eaves 

 and reaching the eggs, and not unlikely he would slide from the smooth 

 straw thatch before he got so far. 



The American orioles, or hang-birds, build somewhat similar nests, 



the Baltimore oriole frecpiently 

 hanging its home on the extrem- 

 ity of the limb of some wide- 

 spreading elm out of the read) 

 of foes of every kind. Here in 

 this purse, half a foot in depth, 

 the flesh-colored eggs are safe, 

 and the callow brood are rocked 

 by every breeze. 



Our next cut shows the great 

 crested cacique of Brazil and its 

 similar but much larger pendulous nests, which may be two feet in depth. 

 Concerning an allied species of the same region, Mr. Bates has the follow- 

 ing notice. The Japim " is social in its habits, and builds its nest, like the 

 English rook, on trees in the neighborhood of habitations. But the nests 

 arc quite differently constructed, being shaped like purses two feet in 

 length, and suspended from the slender branches all round the tree, some 

 of them very near the ground. The entrance is on the side near the 

 bottom of the nest. The bird is a great favorite with the Brazilians 

 of Para ; it is a noisy, stirring, babbling creature, passing constantly to 

 and fro, chattering to its comrades, and is very ready at imitating other 

 birds, especially the domestic poultry of the vicinity. There was at one 

 time a weekly newspaper published at Para, called 'The Japim,' the 



Fig. 470. - 



Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula). 



