196 BIRDS' NESTS 



stems and tendrils of creepers or twigs. When placed 

 among bamboo the leaves of that plant form the chief 

 external material, bound together by stems of plants 

 and roots. This is lined first with coarse roots of 

 ferns and fibrous roots of bamboo, well interlaced, 

 whilst the final lining consists of fern and moss roots 

 of the finest character. Some of the nests in the 

 present family, although cup-shaped, approach the 

 domed type, one side being much prolonged and 

 slightly overhanging the egg cavity, as for instance, 

 that of Corythocichla striata. In other Indian genera 

 of Stachyrhis and Stachyrhidopsis we have species 

 that build no fewer than three types of nest, ranging 

 from an open cup to a completely domed structure, 

 although we should say that the first type is placed 

 under shelter of some kind, such as a mass of plants 

 and roots, and more naturally comes into the division 

 treated in the previous chapter. I mention the in- 

 stance to impress still further upon the student the 

 wonderful adaptability displayed by birds in almost 

 every great natural group. 



The Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae) comprise the next family, 

 of which the nests require notice here. These are 

 open structures, made of a great variety of materials 

 and placed in bushes, low trees, and more exceptionally 

 amongst creepers. The nest of the Striated Green 

 Bulbul {Alcurus striaUis) is composed externally of 

 twigs and fern roots compactly interlaced, lined in the 

 first place with more twigs and roots and stems of 



