1f)8 NATUKALIST'S CABINET. 



Plumage various Description. 



banana tree, which makes two sides of their little 

 habitation, while the oilier two are artificially 

 composed by their own industry. But these, 

 and all of the kind, are built with the same pre- 

 cautions to guard the young against the depre- 

 dations of monkeys and serpents, which abound 

 in every tree. The nest hangs there, before the 

 spoilers, a tempting object, which they can only 

 gaze upon, while the bird flies in and out, with- 

 out danger or molestation, from so formidable a 

 vicinity." 



The plumage of those which inhabit tropical 

 regions is exceedingly various. 



THE NUT-HATCH. 



THERE are several species of this bird, but 

 only one found in England, the length of which 

 is five inches and three quarters. The bill is 

 strong and straight, about three quarters of an 

 inch long; the upper mandible is black, and the 

 lower white. The tongue is short, horny at the 

 end, and jagged. All the upper parts of the 

 body are of a bluish grey: the cheeks and chin 

 are white ; the breast and belly pale orange- 

 coloured ; and the quills dusky. The tail is short; 

 and consists of twelve feathers, the two middle 

 ones of which are grey, the two outer spotted 

 with white, and the rest dusky. The legs are 

 pale yellow ; the claws are large, and the back 



