236 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



it is impossible to distinguish it from any of the other pendulous 

 masses in the vicinity. These bunches are frequently a yard in 

 length, and in some places hang so near the ground as to strike 

 the head of the explorer during his rambles ; in others they are 

 placed high up on the trees, but only in such parts of the forest 

 where there is an open space entirely shaded by overhanging fo- 

 liage. As will be readily conceived, in whatever situations they 

 are met with, they at all times form a remarkable and conspicu- 

 ous feature in the landscape. 



" Although the nest is constantly disturbed by the wind, and 

 liable to be shaken when the tree is disturbed, so secure does the 

 inmate consider itself from danger or intrusion of any kind, that 

 I have frequently captured the female while sitting on her eggs, 

 a feat that may always be accomplished by carefully placing the 

 hand over the entrance — that is, if it can be detected, to effect 

 which no slight degree of close prying and examination is nec- 

 essary. 



" The nest is formed of the inner bark of trees, intermingled 

 with green moss, which soon vegetates ; sometimes dried grasses 

 and fibrous roots form part of the materials of which it is com- 

 posed, and it is warmly lined with feathers. The eggs, which are 

 three in number, and much elongated in form, vary considerably 

 in color, the most constant tint being a clove-brown, freckled over 

 the end with dark umber-brown, frequently assuming the form of 

 a complete band or zone ; their medium length is one inch, and 

 their breadth eight lines." 



If the reader will bear in mind the remarkable shape of this 

 and a few other nests, he will see, in a future page, how wonder- 

 ful is the resemblance between the pensile nests of birds and in- 

 sects. 



Pensile birds do not always suspend their nests to the 

 branches of trees, but in some instances choose exactly the local- 

 ities which appear to be the most unsuited for the purpose. Still 

 keeping to Australia, we may find a most wonderful example of 

 a pensile nest near mountain courses. The bird which makes it 

 is called, indifferently, the Eock Warbler, or the Cataract 

 Bird (Origma rubricata), because it is always found where water- 

 courses rush through rocky ground. So attached is the bird to 

 these localities, that it is never seen in the forest, nor ever has 

 been observed to perch upon a branch. The generic name, Orig- 



