182 CONVERSATIONS ON 



which make what is called felt, just as the 

 hat-maker does ; and some are weavers, others 

 basket-makers ; some build platforms to live 

 on ; and I assure you some birds' nests are as 

 curious as any of the things of which I have 

 yet told you." 



" Pray let us hear of them, Uncle Philip." 



" Very well, you shall. I will begin with 

 birds that make felt like the hatter. Do you 

 know how a hat is made ?" 



" Not exactly, Uncle Philip ; but we know 

 what it is made of." 



" What is it, boys ?" 



" Of sheep's wool, and the hair of other 

 animals : is it not ?" 



" Yes, commonly of these things ; and to 

 understand what I am going to tell you, I 

 think it will be necessary first to say some- 

 thing about the hatter's trade. The business 

 of the man who makes a hat is to mix up wool 

 or hair in such a way that it will stick to- 

 gether and make felt ; or something like a 

 piece of thick, strong cloth. To do this, he 

 does not weave the hairs together, for they are 

 of different kinds, and of different lengths, 

 and it would be endless work to weave every 



