THE MYRAPETRA SCUTELLARIS. 157 



The whole of the exterior is thickly studded with projections, 

 varying in size and shape, but being all of some sharpness at the 

 tip. These projections are comparatively few at the top of the 

 nest, becoming gradually more numerous as they approach the 

 bottom, until at last they are set so thickly that the finger can 

 scarcely be laid between them. 



The object of these projections is not ascertained. The nest 

 always hangs very low, seldom being more than three or four 

 feet from the ground, and some writers say that the office of the 

 sharp projections is to guard the nest from the attacks of the 

 felidae and other honey and grub-loving mammalia. Such may 

 mdeed be the true explanation, and indeed it is so obvious that 

 no one could avoid seeing it. But I very much doubt whether 

 a far better expknation is not in store, and I cannot see why 

 the Myrapetra should stand in need of such protection, when 

 the nest of the Nectarinia, which is placed in precisely the same 

 conditions, is perfectly smooth and defenceless. 



One use of the projections is evidently for the double purpose 

 of concealing and protecting the entrance. On looking at the 

 nest from above no entrance is visible, and it is not until after 

 a close examination that the openings are found. They are 

 concealed under a row of projections, which overhang them 

 Uke the eaves of a house, and effectually keep off the rains 

 which fall in such heavy torrents during tropical storms. The 

 material of which these projections are made is the same as 

 that of which the walls of the nest are built, except that it is 

 very much thicker and harder, the various layers being hardly 

 distinguishable, even with a good magnifier. 



The interior of the nest is as remarkable as its exterior. 



When cut open longitudinally, an operation which was care- 

 fully performed by Mr. White, a very curious sight presents 

 itself. The nest is filled with combs, all very much curved, and 

 these curves accommodating themselves beautifully to the gene- 

 ral form of the nest. At the top is a nearly globular mass of 

 brown paper-like substance, which is' apparently the nucleus 

 of the nest. The first comb closely surrounds this globular 



