226 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



building, the birds first commence by working some stout flags or 

 reeds from the branch, so as to hang downward. They then at- 

 tach the upper part of the nest to the branch, so as to form the 

 dome-like roof. By degrees they complete the globular bulb, 

 still working downward, and, lastly, the neck is attached to the 

 body of the nest. Great skill is required to keep the neck even 

 and open, and yet no machine could accomplish the work better 

 than do these ingenious little architects. The upper part of the 

 nest is very thick and firmly built, more than twice as thick as 

 the neck, and the material of which it is made is far stronger. In 

 some instances I have seen one nest attached to another; and 

 when this is the case, the second builder strengthens the first nest, 

 and then attaches his own work thereto. 



" Should by chance a hawk or monkey venture into the vicin- 

 ity of a colony of birds, it is chased and chirped at by hundreds 

 of these little creatures, who make common cause against the in- 

 truder, and quickly drive him off. During the building of the 

 nests, the river side is a most interesting place, as the intelligence 

 and diligence of the birds are most remarkable." 



If the hand be carefully introduced up the neck of one of these 

 nests, its admirable fitness for the nurture of the young birds is at 

 once perceived. When merely viewed from the outside, the nest 

 looks as if it would be a very unsafe cradle, and would permit 

 the young birds to fall through the neck into the water. A sec- 

 tion of the nest, however, shows that no habitation can be safer, 

 and even the hand can detect the wonderfully ingenious manner 

 in which the interior is constructed. Just where the neck is 

 united to the bulb, a kind of wall or partition is made, about two 

 inches in height, which runs completely across the bulb, and ef- 

 fectually prevents the young birds from falling into the neck. 



Although the nests are seen in considerable numbers, the feath- 

 ered architect does not seem to be a particularly sociable bird, 

 seldom being seen in flocks, and, as a general fact, the male and 

 female associate together and keep all other birds at a distance. 

 The eggs are generally three in number, very pale blue with a 

 few brownish spots, the spots being chiefly gathered toward the 

 larger end. The parent birds are very assiduous in their house- 

 hold cares, and each sits alternately until the eggs are hatched. 

 So absorbed are they in their task that they can be captured 

 alive, merely by grasping the lower end of the neck with one 

 hand, and then cautiously introducing the other hand into the 



