NATURALISES CAtflNET. 



Ingenuity in nest-building. 



the first glance, yet, on examination, it will be 

 found to have the choice of sagacity, for the 

 place so chosen is invariably difficult of access; 

 the tree pitched upon usually grows in some 

 thick hedge-row; fenced by brambles at the root; 

 or when in a bush, such a one is selected that it 

 is hardly possible to get to the top twigs in which 

 its nest is interwoven. When a secure place i 

 chosen, the next care is to fence the nest above, 

 so as to defend it from a variety of natural ene- 

 mies. The kite, the crow, and the sparrow-hawk, 

 are to be guarded against, for as their nests have 

 been sometimes plundered by the magpie, so it 

 may be reasonably expected that they will take 

 the first opportunity to retaliate. To prevent 

 this, the magpie's nest is built with surprising 

 labour and ingenuity. The body of the nest is 

 composed of hawthorn branches, the thorns stick- 

 ing outward, but well united together by their 

 mutwal insertion. Within it is lined with fibrous 

 roots, wool, and long grass, and then curiously 

 plastered all round with mud and clay. The ca- 

 nopy, which is to defend it above, is composed 

 of the sharpest thorns, woven together in such 

 a manner as to deny all entrance, except at 

 the opening, which is left on the side, just large 

 enough to permit egress and regress to the 

 owners. In this fortress the female hatches and 

 and brings up their brood with security, sheltered 

 from all attacks of the feathered race, and but 

 disturbed by man. She generally lays 



