306 THE HARMONIES OF NATURE. 



of them with both ends to two neighbouring branches. Soon 

 after the female comes, inspects his work, and places another 

 fibre across that of her companion. Thus by their alternate 

 labours a net is formed, which soon assumes the form of a 

 pensile nest, and as it advances towards its completion, the 

 affection of the tender couple seems to increase. Although so 

 strongly constructed that it will bear a good deal of rough 

 handling without losing its form, the tissue is at the same 

 time so loose as to allow the air to pass through its meshes ; and 

 as the parents know that the excessive heat of summer would 

 incommode their young, they suspend their nest so as to catch 

 the cooler breeze of the north-east, when breeding in Louisiana ; 

 while in more temperate regions, such as Pennsylvania and 

 New York, they always give it a southern exposition, and take 

 care to line it with wool or cotton. The movements of these 

 ingenious little architects are uncommonly graceful, their song 

 is sweet; they migrate in winter towards more southerly 

 regions, such as Mexico or Brazil, and return after the vernal 

 equinox to the United States. 



The wonderful pendulous nests of the American cassiques are 

 emulated by the labours of the African ploceidse or wea,ver-birds. 

 Most of the numerous species of this ingenious family likewise 

 suspend their fabrics to the ends of twigs, small branches, 

 drooping parasites, palm-leaves or reeds, and many always 

 hang their nests over water, and at no very great height above 

 its surface. This serves as an effectual protection against their 

 enemies the monkeys and tree-snakes, under whose weight the 

 slender basis of the nest, were they to attempt its capture, 

 would infallibly give way and precipitate them into the water 

 beneath. ( In building,' says Captain Drayson, ( the birds first 

 commence by working some stout flags or reeds from the 

 branch, so as to hang downwards. They then attach the upper 

 part of the nest to the branch, so as to form the domelike roof. 

 By degrees they complete the globular ball, still working down- 

 wards, and lastly the neck is attached to the body of the nest. 

 Great skill is required to keep the neck even and open, and yet 

 no machine could accomplish the work better than do these 

 ingenious little architects. The upper part of the nest is very 

 thick and firmly built, more than twice as thick as the neck, 

 and the material of which it is made is far stronger. In some 



