OF NiiTURAL HISTORY, 825 



pofed of fucli folid materials, that it may laft many years. Its 

 foi'in refembtes that of a floor. Its bafis coniifts of flicks 

 about five or fix feet in length, which are fupported at each 

 end, and thefe are covered with feveral layers of ruflies and 

 heuh. An eagle's neft was found in the Peak of Derby- 

 fliire, whicii Willoughby defcrlbes ia the following manner i 

 « It '^ras made of great fticks, refting one end on the edge of 

 "f a i-ock^ the other on a birch tree. Upon thefe was a layer 

 ^ of ruihes, and Over them a layer of heath, and on the heath 

 •f rufhes again ; upon which lay one young, and an addle egg ; 

 * and by them a lamb, a hare, and three heath pouts. The 

 f neft was about two yixMs %.rare, and had no hollow in it.* 

 But the butcher birds, or Ilirikes, which are lefs rapacious 

 than eagles and hawks, build their habitations in fhrubs and 

 buihes, and employ mofs, wool, and other foft materials. 



The birds belonging to the order of Pies in the ingenious 

 Mr. Pennant's Genera of Birds, are extremely irregular in 

 conn:ru61:ing their nefts. The common magpies build their 

 nefts in trees, and their ftructure is admirably contrived for 

 affording warmth and protection to the young. The neft is 

 iiot open at the top : It is covered, in the mofl: dexterous 

 manner, with an arch or dome, and a fmall opening in the 

 fide of it is left, to give the parents an opportunity of pafHng 

 in and out at their pleafure. To proteft their eggs and young 

 from the attacks of other animals, the magpies place, all 

 round the external fiirface of their nefl, fliarp briars and 

 thorns. The long-tailed titmoufe, or ox-eye, builds nearly 

 like the wren, but with ftill greater art. With the fame ma- 

 terials as the reft of the ftruflure, the titmoufe builds an 

 arch over the top of the neft, which refembles an egg erefV- 

 ed upon one end, and leaves a fmall hole in the fide for a 

 palfage. Both eggs and young, by this contrivance, are de- 

 fended from the injuries of the air, rain, cold, &c. That 

 the young may have a foft and warm bed, flic lines the in- 



R R 



