THE NATURAL 



bird somewhat larger than a blackbird. He made a very 

 exact sketch of it, and verifying the native's tales by his 

 own observation, he found out how the bird makes this 

 building which is not so much a nest as a pleasure 

 house. The amblyornis chooses a little clearing with 

 unbroken lawn and a small tree in the middle. Around 

 this tree or bush which serves as axis, the bird places a 

 little moss, then he plants slantwise the branches of a 

 plant which will continue to grow for some time; jux- 

 taposition of branches form the inclined walls of the 

 hut. On one side they are left open to make a doorway, 

 before which is the garden whose elements are gathered 

 with difficulty, tuft by tuft, at some distance. After 

 having carefully cleaned the lawn, the amblyornis sows 

 it with flowers and fruits which he collects in the neigh- 

 bourhood, and which he renews from time to time." This 

 primitive gardener belongs to the bird of paradise fam- 

 ily, remarkable for the beauty of their plumage. It 

 seems that not being able to dress himself, he has ex- 

 teriorized his instinct. According to travellers, these 

 cabins are true houses of rendezvous, the country-boxes 

 of the seventeenth century, the "follies" of the XVIIIth. 

 The gallant bird ornaments it with everything that might 

 please the invited female; if she is satisfied, it is the 

 abode of love, after having been that of declarations. 

 I do not know whether these oddities have been given 

 the importance which they should have been, in the his- 

 tory of birds and of humanity. The scholar, the only 

 person knowing such details, usually fails utterly to un- 

 derstand them. One savant whom I read, thinks of the 

 thieving magpie, and adds, these traits which are common 

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