STEAMER AND LAUNCH TO HOORIE CREEK. 143 



of the Feather- toed Swift 71 composed entirely of feathery seed 

 plumes. It was a straight symmetrical column about three 

 inches in diameter and fourteen inches long, suspended from 

 the palm thatch, not half a foot from a hanging, open-comb 

 wasps' nest. The upper ten inches of the nest was built and 

 occupied just six months ago in September, and a brood of 



FIG. 71. SIR EVERARD IM THURN'S HOUSE AT MORAWHANNA. 



two young were reared. Now the birds bad returned and were 

 preparing to nest again, having already added four inches 

 of pure white seed-plumes, easily distinguished from the older, 

 browner, weathered portion. They came to the nest every 

 hour with a beakful of plumes and pressed them into position 

 while fluttering in mid air, evidently utilizing their saliva as a 

 cementing substance. In the interims between their visits, 



