440 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



hard and tough, and the branches are therefore able to bear the 

 great weight of the nests. This tree is used in Southern Africa 

 for many purposes wherein hardness and endurance are required, 

 such as the axle-trees of the wooden wagons, which have to with- 

 stand such rough usage, the upright timbers of houses, and the 

 handles of tools, especially those which are intended for agricul- 

 tural purposes. 



The birds then hang the Booschmannie grass over a suitable 

 branch, and by means of weaving and plaiting it, they form a 

 roof of some little size. Under this roof are placed a quantity 

 of nests, increasing in number with each successive brood. The 

 nests are set closely together, so that at last they look like a mass 

 of grass pierced with numerous holes, and it is really wonderful 

 that the birds should be able to find their way to their own par- 

 ticular homes. To human eyes, the nests are as much alike as 

 the houses in a modern street, before the blinds, the flowers, and 

 other additions have communicated an individuality to each 

 dwelling ; but, notwithstanding this similarity, the inmates glide 

 in and out without any hesitation. 



Although the same nest-mass is occupied for several successive 

 seasons, the birds refuse to build in the same nests a second time, 

 preferring to make a fresh domicile for each new brood. In con- 

 sequence of this custom, when the birds have entirely filled the 

 roofs with their nests, they do not desert it, but enlarge the roof, 

 and build a second row of nests, just like the combs of a wasp's 

 or hornet's habitation. 



Layer after layer is thus added, until the mass becomes of so 

 enormous a size that travelers have mistaken these nests for the 

 houses of human beings, and been grievously disappointed when 

 they came near enough to detect their real character. There is 

 a story of a Hottentot and a lion, which will give an idea of the 

 dimensions of these nests. A Hottentot, who was engaged in 

 some task, was suddenly surprised by a lion, and instinctively 

 made for the nearest tree, which happened to be a kameel-dorn. 

 Up the tree he sprang, and finding one of the branches occupied 

 by the nest of the Sociable Weaver Bird, he took refuge behind 

 the grassy mass, and was thus concealed from the pursuer. 



The lion, in the mean time, arrived at the foot of the tree, but 

 could not see his intended prey. The unlucky Hottentot, how- 

 ever, peeped over the nest in order to see whether the coast was 

 clear, and was spied by the lion, who made a dash at the tree. 



