DOMED OR ROOFED NESTS 243 



dead grass and leaves. This nest he found to be 

 a very compact structure with a hidden entrance in 

 the side just large enough to admit the bird. All the 

 nests of this species found subsequently by him vi^ere 

 built in exposed situations, and resembled bunches of 

 drift grass. Another species, breeding in Brazil, and 

 locally known as the " Ferreirinho," or Little Smith 

 {T. maculatum), builds a similarly domed nest. One 

 of these has been most carefully described by Dr 

 Goeldi, to whom we are indebted for the following 

 particulars. It was built near the extremity of a 

 short branch of an " abin " tree about twenty-three 

 feet from the ground, somewhat well concealed in the 

 central part of the crown, and is described as a bag- 

 like structure with an entrance hole in the side, the 

 latter being small and circular, and provided with a 

 sort of porch or protecting roof, as we have already 

 seen is a feature in the nests of some Sun-birds. The 

 principal material of which the nest is made is the 

 fibres of palm-tree leaves and bits of straw. Many of 

 these fibres hang down in a loose and slovenly manner 

 far below the bulk of the nest, whilst the upper part 

 of the structure, including the portion connecting it 

 to the branch, is similarly prolonged into a horn-like 

 mass. Possibly the very carelessness of its construc- 

 tion forms one of its best safeguards, as it might 

 readily be taken for a mere lodgment of rubbish 

 amongst the clustering leaves in which it has been so 

 cunningly placed. 



