DOMED OR ROOFED NESTS 221 



Arachnothera and i^thopyga through the hooded 

 or porched types to that of the globular one. Many 

 writers consider these nests to belong to the pendulous 

 type of avine architecture, but in my views of the 

 definition of a penduline cradle they certainly do not 

 present the peculiarities of it {conf. p. 253). The usual 

 sites for the nests of the Sun -birds are the extremities 

 of slender branches, several twigs often being utilised 

 for support, or the under surface of large broad 

 leaves and fern fronds. Single trees on open plains 

 are selected by many species ; others prefer forest or 

 clearings. As a rule, these nests are neatly made, 

 and the materials consist of dry grasses, mosses, 

 fibres, roots and spiders' webs, lichens, cocoons, bits 

 of bark or even paper forming a garniture when such 

 is employed, whilst the linings may consist of hair, 

 feathers and vegetable downs. Not the least interest- 

 ing fact about many of the nests of the Sun-birds is 

 the manner which they are made to resemble sur- 

 rounding objects. A detailed description of one or 

 two nests may now be given. The Madagascar Sun- 

 bird {Nectarinia notata), as if in imitation of its own 

 favourite attitude of suspending itself from the twigs 

 like a Titmouse, hangs its nest from the drooping 

 branch of some mimosa tree. In shape it is some- 

 thing like a bag or pocket with an opening in the side 

 or front. It is made of fine roots, dry leaves and 

 stems of creeping plants, and lined with the softest 

 spiders' webs. Another species {Cmnyris aldahrensis) 



