NEST OF THE BAYA. 



pupa, places itself in its cell with its head downwards, and is thus 

 necessitated, when arriving at the perfect state, to pass through 

 the floor in that direction.* 



73. It is especially in the first moment of their lives that 

 animals in general are feeble, tender, and helpless, and have need 

 of shelter from atmospheric vicissitudes, and protection from the 

 attacks of their enemies ; and we find, accordingly, that it is 

 precisely these directions which have been given to the most 

 irresistible instincts with which Almighty Goodness has endowed 

 their parents. The number of species which in mature age build 

 habitations for their own use, is insignificant compared with 

 those which construct, with a labour which seems guided by the 

 most touching tenderness and forethought, habitations for their 

 young. 



74. This habit is especially observable with birds. It is impos- 

 sible to regard with sentiments other than those of the most 

 profound interest the perseverance with which these creatures 

 bring straw by straw, and hair by hair the materials destined 

 for the formation of their nests, and the art with which they 

 arrange them. The form, structure, and locality of these habi- 

 tations is always the same for the same species, but different for 

 different species, and are ever admirably adapted to the circum- 

 stances in which the young family are destined to live. Sometimes 

 these cradles are con- 

 structed in the earth, and 



in a rude manner ; some- 

 times they are cemented to 

 the side of a rock, or to the 

 wall of a building, but 

 more commonly they are 

 placed in the branches of 

 trees, a hemispherical form 

 being given to them (fig. 

 19.) They resemble, in 

 form and structure, a little 

 basket, rounded at the bot- 

 tom and hollowed out at 

 the top, the sides of which 

 are formed of blades of 

 grass, flexible straws and 

 twigs, and hairs taken from 



the wool of animals, the Fig. 20. Nest of tho Baya. 



inside being lined with moss or down. 



* Eeaum. vi. 3952 ; Mon. Ap. Angl. i. 189 ; Apis. * * a. 2. 0. 

 L 2 147 



