THE YELLOW-THROATED SERICORNIS. 129 



mosses not only grow upon the trunks of decayed trees, but are 

 often accumulated in large masses at the extremities of the 

 drooping branches. These masses often become of sufficient 

 size to admit of the bird constructing a nest in the centre of 

 them, with so much art that it is impossible to distinguish it 

 from any of the other pendulous masses in the vicinity. These 

 bunches are frequently a yard in length, and in some places 

 hang so near the ground as to strike the head of the explorer 

 during his rambles ; in others, they are placed high up on the 

 trees, but only in such parts of the forest where there is an 

 open space entirely shaded by overhanging foliage. As will be 

 readily conceived, in whatever situations they are met with, they 

 at all times form a remarkable and conspicuous feature in the 

 landscape. 



' Although the nest is constantly disturbed by the wind, and 

 liable to be shaken when the tree is disturbed, so secure does the 

 inmate consider itself from danger or intrusion of any kind, that 

 I have frequently captured the female while sitting on her eggs, 

 a feat that may always be accomplished by carefully placing the 

 hand over the entrance — that is, if it can be detected, to effect 

 which, no slight degree of close prying and examination is 

 necessary. 



* The nest is formed of the inner bark of trees, intermingled 

 with green moss, which soon vegetates; sometimes dried grasses 

 and fibrous roots form part of the materials of which it is com- 

 posed, and it is warmly lined with feathers. The eggs, which 

 are three in number, and much elongated in form, vary con- 

 siderably in colour, the most constant tint being a clove-brown, 

 freckled over the end with dark umber-brown, frequently assum- 

 ing the form of a complete band or zone ; their medium length 

 is one inch, and their breadth eight lines.' 



If the reader will bear in mind the remarkable shade of this 

 and a few other nests, he will see, in a future page, how wonderful 

 is the resemblance between the pensile nests of birds and insects. 



Pensile birds do not always suspend their nests to the 

 branches of trees, but in some instances choose exactly the 



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