RESOURCEFUL CRAFTSMEN 177 



twigs, and the downwardly elongated entrance- 

 spout, being simply a round nest with, an entrance- 

 hole below. It is, however, the skill in working 

 the material that is the great attraction in Weavers' 

 nests, not the exact form assumed, which is not 

 more wonderful than that of many other nests. 



The Baya may at times exhibit what looks more 

 like reason than instinct in getting its material ; 

 cocoanut fibre or ordinary grass will do, but it has 

 been found building with grass which was far too 

 broad ; and in this case the bird alighted on the 

 great blades, bit down to a sufficiently practical 

 breadth, then went further down the blade till it 

 had the right length, bit into the blade again, and 

 then flew off, tearing away the strip as it went. 

 As this grass also had a serrated edge, so that it 

 could only be passed through one way, it is difficult 

 to refuse reasoning powers to this particular colony 

 of Weavers at all events. 



In the Weaver the constructive instinct is very 

 much stronger in the male than in the female, but, 

 though many birds share the labour of nest-building 

 xwith their mates, the constructive instinct is com- 

 monly more feminine than masculine, and some 

 birds leave the construction entirely to the hen. 

 The male, however, often supplies material, as 

 generally with Sparrows and Pigeons, or he may 

 accompany the female to and fro in her trips to 

 get it, no doubt to keep watch over her safety 

 while thus pre-occupied. He always takes some 

 interest if he cares about the nest at all, which 



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