214 BIRDS' NESTS 



cradle is practically a peculiar feature of the order. 

 It is, however, by no means confined to any group 

 or section of the Passeres, but has been adopted by 

 an immense variety of forms, probably from similar 

 motives. Neither can it, in many cases, be regarded 

 as typical, for it is found to occur in a most irregular 

 manner, even in genera where another type of archi- 

 tecture is the prevailing feature. We shall also find 

 that in shape and materials these domed and roofed 

 homes present a very great amount of diversity, as 

 they also do in the situations they are made to occupy. 

 Beginning with the Crows (Corvidse), as we did in 

 our review of the open nest type of the Passeres, 

 we find that the Magpies (Pica) are the only species 

 that construct a domed, or rather in their case, a 

 " roofed " nest. The nest of the Common Magpie 

 {P. caudata) may be taken as the most familiar 

 example. This handsome bird is still a common 

 and widely distributed one in the British Islands, 

 and its bulky nest is one of the most familiar bird 

 homes in the woodland districts. Some of these 

 nests become quite historic, being tenanted year by 

 year, added to or repaired each season, and reaching 

 a very large size as each season's work accumulates. 

 The nest of the Magpie may be found in almost every 

 kind of forest tree, whilst tall thorn bushes, hedges, 

 and isolated trees in the fields or open are frequently 

 selected. The height at which it is placed is equally 

 variable; it may be built in the tops of the loftiest 



