in and out, just like laughing boys and girls 

 do in their merry happy play. But you 

 will say, " how can birds build a bower ? " I 

 will tell you. Several of the birds unite in 

 forming a foundation, by weaving sticks and 

 twigs together on the ground, and from the 

 edges of this platform they raise the side walls 

 of the bower by interweaving small twigs and 

 tall grasses. These walls converge till they 

 nearly meet at the top : they are gaily decorated 

 with the brightest and most beautiful feathers. 

 All around the entrances the birds strew 

 every pretty object they can find in the bush, 

 as bleached bones, coloured pebbles, snail 

 shells, &c., some of which they bring from 

 long distances. They build their nests in 

 the low branches of trees. 



