Nests in Trees 



considered inferior. The birds now build much faster and 

 at the end of February a second gathering takes place, 

 which is usually the best of the season. The third 

 collection is made in April, when the nests, though of 

 good quality, are thin and dry. After this the poor birds 

 are left in peace to build again and rear their young. 

 The nests are very carefully removed from the rock with 

 an iron trident, and are kept in clean linen bags, it 

 being most important that they should not become soiled 

 or wetted by sea-water. When brought into port, they 

 are cleaned of all feathers and impurities, and then packed 

 in bundles weighing about 4 Ibs. each and graded 

 according to their quality. The nests are divided into 

 three classes, the first and best being pure white, the 

 second clean but of a yellow colour, the third dis- 

 coloured and mixed with feathers and other substances. 

 These wonderful nests are formed from a gelatinous 

 secretion from the salivary glands of the birds. Many of 

 the caves, which are scattered about the islands and some- 

 times far inland or amongst mangrove swamps, are quite 

 dark, torches and ladders being necessary to collect the 

 spoil." 



The dipper builds its neat, domed nest close to some 

 stream, or sometimes, indeed, behind a waterfall, through 

 which it must needs fly on its journey to and from the 

 nest. The greatest care is taken in the building of this 

 little home ; it is neatly constructed of fresh moss which 

 is kept in green condition by the spray from the nearby 

 water. 



Often the material of which a nest is made is of greater 

 interest than is the nest itself; sometimes the form and 

 material are both peculiar, and such is the nest of the fiery 

 topaz. In shape it resembles a miniature cow's horn, with 

 the point affixed to some slender branch. In material it 

 appears to be made of leather and its nature for long 

 remained a mystery. Seeing that it closely resembles 

 the branch on which it is built, the first surmise was that 



