CHAPTER VII 



WONDERFUL NESTS 



Nest of Macrodipteryx comatus, seen from above, from a specimen 

 in the British Museum (natural size). 



Birds which make no nest — The breeding of the Hornbills— Hoopoes 

 — Wood-Hoopoes and Cobras — Kingfishers — Mud-nest builders 

 — Hoatzins — Flamingoes — Swallows and Martins — Cven-bird — 

 Cemented nests— Edible Swiftlets— Crested Swifts. 



Of the birds which make no nest, perhaps the Hornbills 

 are the most interesting. Here we find the female resort- 

 ing to the hole of a tree and laying her eggs, one or two in 

 number, while the male plasters the hole up and takes 

 upon his shoulders the support of his wife and child. 

 Anything more fraught with disastrous consequences to 

 the family can scarcely be imagined, for if the poor hard- 



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