Birds of a Feather 



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keep quiet. At night he roosts near her while 

 she sleeps on the nest, or, in rare cases, he builds 

 a nest-like hut for himself one of the very few 

 instances of an animal taking pains to erect a 

 shelter. 



The baya sparrow, so called, a weaver-bird 

 of India, furnishes the best example of these 

 cock nests, but each pair of our own marsh 

 wrens construct several nests (hollow basket- 

 balls among the reeds), only one of which is 

 occupied for brooding, while the others form 

 sleeping quarters for the males or are not used 

 at all. The nest of the baya, however, is double, 

 one chamber being occupied by the nest proper, 

 with its eggs and brooding female, while the 

 male roosts in the other part. 



Our small woodpeckers, too, are likely to dig 

 two holes, in one of which the father of the 

 family takes shelter when he pleases. 



While the eggs are being laid or incubated 

 the male holds aloof still more cautiously, only 

 darting in morning and evening for an hour 

 or two (regularly timed) after his mate begins 

 to sit, in order that she may steal away for food 

 ^ 189 



