OPEN NESTS 179 



open nest-builders, the Finches and allied species 

 (Fringillids). The prevailing type of nest in this 

 family is an open one, but there is a wonderful 

 amount of variety not only in the materials but in 

 the manner in which they are worked. Some of 

 the most beautiful examples of avine architecture 

 are included in the present family of birds ; whilst 

 on the other hand not a few must be ranked 

 amongst the most slovenly, untidy, or even crude. 

 It would be absolutely impossible to treat fully and 

 exhaustively with the architecture of these birds in 

 the space at our disposal here ; all that we can do 

 is to give a general idea of it so far as it is at 

 present known (details being exceptionally meagre 

 in some cases), and illustrate our generalisations by 

 some of the most prominent and interesting types. 

 The nests^ of the Finches are, as just stated, open 

 and cup-shaped, but they vary a good deal in depth 

 and amount of materials. The latter principally 

 consist of twigs, straws, dry grass, moss, wool, 

 vegetable downs, hair and feathers ; whilst lichens, 

 cobwebs, cocoons, and flakes of bark are often 

 employed as an external garniture for harmonising 

 the structure with its surroundings and thus ensuring 

 concealment. We may dismiss such nests as those 

 of the Sparrows and some of the Buntings, as they 

 are either domed or placed in concealed or covered 

 sites. The usual situations for the nests of the 

 Finches are amongst comparatively low vegetation, 



