DOMED OR ROOFED NESTS 219 



living ferns and mosses which most effectually conceal 

 it from view. 



Passing notice may be given to the nests of the 

 Sugar-birds (Caerebid^). These are somewhat loosely 

 formed structures formed of dry grass, roots, fibres, 

 feathers and vegetable downs, etc., domed in form, 

 and in some cases with a projecting porch. It will 

 also be necessary to revert to the architecture of the 

 Finches. As we have already seen, the usual type in 

 this family is open and cup-shaped, but in some 

 species a domed type is adopted. Some of the 

 special instances of this domed type also illustrate 

 in a remarkable manner the wonderful adaptability 

 displayed by birds in constructing their procreant 

 cradles. The domed nest-builders in the Finch family 

 include the Sparrows, and our own familiar House 

 Sparrow {Passer doinesticus) furnishes one of the most 

 interesting examples. This bird — a past master of 

 the art of making itself at home — has two very 

 distinct types of nest, an open one, when built in a 

 hole, a domed one when placed in trees or ivy, and so 

 forth. This latter nest is most skilfully made, and 

 is generally a somewhat loose globe about the size of 

 a man's head formed of grass, straws, plant stems, 

 etc., warmly lined with wool, hair, feathers, and a 

 variety of other soft material. Incidentally, I may 

 mention that House Sparrows, during the present 

 December (1900) have been lining their nests under 

 my eaves with the dry silky flowers of pampas grass. 



