OPEN NESTS 193 



macerated leaves. The Mocking-bird places its nest 

 in very similar situations in bushes or small trees, and 

 constructs it of almost precisely the same materials — 

 grass, twigs, dead leaves and a lining of roots. This 

 species also decorates its nest with w^ool and similar 

 things. The architecture of the next family of birds 

 (Timeliid^) is of a most varied character, partly be- 

 cause it is one of the most heterogeneous groups in 

 the entire avine class — a receptacle, " or refuge for the 

 destitute," as Seebohm used to say, into which almost 

 every Passere of doubtful affinities has been cast by 

 bewildered . systematists. This family still requires 

 revision, when more natural limits may be set to 

 its boundaries. Almost every type of nest may, in 

 the existing order of things be found within it ; but 

 as the species are principally tropical, domed or 

 otherwise concealed structures are dominant. In 

 the present chapter, all that we need concern our- 

 selves with is the open type. One of the most re- 

 markable of these is adopted by many of the famous 

 Tailor-birds {Orthotonius), a group which is rightly or 

 wrongly associated with the Timelines by one of the 

 most recent cataloguers of the group. The taxonomic 

 position of the Tailor-birds, however, we have for- 

 tunately nothing to do with here ; all that need 

 concern us are their wonderful nests. A descrip- 

 tion of that made by the well-known Indian Tailor- 

 bird {Orthotomiis longicaudas), will amply suffice for 

 the present purpose. The extraordinary intelligence 



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