340 



STRANGE DWELLINGS. 



not be endangered by her neighbours, for she came to the tree 

 after the magpie had settled in it. 



The nest of the Ringdove is of so simple a character as 

 scarcely to deserve the name. The bird chooses a suitable 

 spray, and lays upon it a number of sticks, which cross each 

 other so as to make a nearly flat platform. Many birds make a 

 similar platform as the foundation of their nest, but with the 

 Ringdove it constitutes the entire nest. So slight is the texture 



RINGDOVE AND NEST. 



of the platform, that when the two white eggs are laid upon it 

 they can be discerned from below by a practised eye, and it 

 really seems wonderful that they can retain their position on 

 such a structure. 



Moreover, the open meshes of the nest allow the wind to 

 blow freely between the sticks, so that nothing would seem to 

 be more uncomfortable for the young. Above, they can cer- 

 tainly be sheltered by the warm body and protecting wings, but 



