THE CAPOCIER, 34^ 



animated strains. After his song was concluded, he began again 

 to occupy himself with the work, and with fresh ardour carried 

 such materials as his companion required, till the spirit of frolic 

 again became buoyant, and a scene similar to that which I have 

 described occurred. I have witnessed eight interruptions of this 

 kind in one morning. How happy birds are ! They are cer- 

 tainly the privileged creatures of nature, thus to work and sport 

 alternately, as fancy prompts them. 



• On the third day the birds began to rear the side walls of 

 the nest, after having rendered the bottom compact by repeatedly 

 pressing the materials with their breasts, and turning them- 

 selves round upon them in all directions. They first formed a 

 plain border, which they afterwards trimmed, and upon this they 

 piled up tufts of cotton, which was fitted into the structure by 

 beating and pressing it with their breasts and the shoulders of 

 their wings, taking care to arrange any projecting corner with 

 their beaks, so as to interlace it into the tissue, and to render it 

 more firm. As the work proceeded, the contiguous branches of 

 the bush were enveloped in the side walls, but without damaging 

 the circular cavity of the interior. This part of the nest required 

 many materials, so that I was quite astonished at the quantity 

 which they used. 



* On the seventh day their task was finished, and, being anxious 

 to examine the interior, I determined to introduce my finger, 

 when I felt an egg that had been probably laid that morning, 

 for on the previous evening I could see that there was no ^gg in 

 it, as it was not then quite covered in. 



' This beautiful edifice, which was as white as snow, was nine 

 inches in height on the outside, whilst in the inside it was not 

 more than five. Its external form was very irregular, on account 

 of the branches which it had been found necessary to enclose ; 

 but the inside exactly resembled a pullet's egg placed with the 

 smaller end upwards. Its greatest diameter was five inches, 

 and the smallest four. The entrance was two-thirds or more of 

 the whole height as seen on the outside, but within it almost 

 reached the arch of the ceiling above.' 



One of the most remarkable points of this singularly beauti- 



