THE CRUDEST NEST FORMS 65 



We must also bear in mind that from a caliological 

 point of view these crude nests are in a certain sense 

 as interesting and important as those of more elaborate 

 structure. On the other hand, it must, however, be 

 conceded that the highest degree of architectural skill 

 is reached in a group of birds universally acknow- 

 ledged by systematic ornithologists to be the most 

 specialised. These birds are the Passeres, and as we 

 shall eventually learn in our general review of birds* 

 nests, it is in this order, composed of the most highly 

 specialised of avine forms, that we find the greatest 

 intelligence and skill brought into play in forming the 

 procreant cradle. 



Let us now return more particularly to the subject 

 of the present chapter — the crudest forms of nest. 

 Amongst these we may first glance at the primitive 

 homes made by w^hat are almost by common consent 

 considered to be the most archaic of all existing 

 birds and classed as the Ratitas. This division is 

 composed entirely of flightless birds, and includes 

 the Rheas, Cassowaries and Emus, the Kiwis and 

 the Ostriches. The nests of all these birds are of 

 the crudest, and consist of hollows excavated in the 

 ground (or, in the case of the Kiwis, amongst the roots 

 of a tree fern), and almost entirely devoid of lining. 

 In these rude hollows the females deposit their eggs. 

 Both male and female Ostriches are said to prepare 

 the crude " nest." According to Mr Crawston 

 (Ostrich Farming in California), the male bird rests 



B 



