The Leaf-cutters 



species are plentiful on level ground, they 

 become scarce and impossible to find on the 

 parched hills. The bird, on its side, is not 

 given to journeys of exploration and takes 

 what it finds to suit it in the neighbourhood 

 of its tree or hedge. But on arid ground, the 

 Micropus erectiis, or upright micropus, 

 abounds and is a satisfactory substitute for 

 the Filij^^o so far as its tiny, cottony leaves 

 and its little fluffy balls of flowers are con- 

 cerned. True, it is short and does not lend 

 itself well to weaver's work. A few long 

 sprigs of another cottony plant, the Hcli- 

 chrysiim st^echas, or wild everlasting, inserted 

 here and there, will give body to the struc- 

 ture. Thus does the Shrike manage when 

 hard up for his favourite materials: keeping 

 to the same botanical family, he is able to find 

 and employ substitutes among the fine cotton- 

 clad stalks. 



He is even able to leave the family of the 

 Compositas and to go gleaning more or less 

 everywhere. Here is the result of my botani- 

 zings at the expense of his nests. We must 

 distinguish between two genera in the Shrike's 

 rough classification: the cottony plants and 

 the smooth plants. Among the first, my notes 



237 



