CURIOUS NESTS. 375 



half as large again as others, and some being made ahiiost 

 entirely of large pieces of leaf, and others chiefly of stems, 

 among which the leaf-fragments are closely pressed. 



We will now proceed to cut open one of these nests in order 

 50 view its structure. 



The outer covering is remarkably close, stiff, and tough, 

 although very thin, and crackles like parcliment as the 

 scissors pass through it. When cut, it is found to be almost 

 distinct from the nest which it covers, V)eing only attached to 

 the projecting ends of the leaf-stems, and so slightly fastened 

 to them that it can be lifted off without injury, only leaving a 

 few threads adherent to the stem. 



We now turn back the severed flap, and the body of the nest 

 comes to view. In the dry state the leaf-stems are so hard 

 that they require a strong and sharp pair of scissors to pene- 

 trate them. I nearly broke a moderately fine pair of scissors 

 m a vain endeavour to open the nest. Even in their fresh state 

 the stems must have been tolerably strong, and the architect 

 must have possessed a powerful pair of jaws for their severance. 

 The stems are crossed upon each other, much as confectioners 

 cross sticks of chocolate, so that the ends slightly protrude, 

 and a hollow space is left in the centre. Pressed tightly among 

 the sticks are fragments of leaves, not torn from the small 

 delicate portions, but cut completely through the largest 

 nervures, and seeming, indeed, as if the strongest parts of the 

 leaves were intentionally selected In the specimens now before 

 me the upper surface of the leaf is always towards the exterior 

 of the nest. 



We now take a very strong and sharp pair of scissors, push 

 one point into the nest, and carefully cut a flap corresponding 

 with the severed portion of the silken cover. The flap is easily 

 turned back, and discloses a smooth and silken lining, much 

 resembling that which forms the cover. The lining, however, 

 is softer than the cover, and does not crackle when bent. Thus 

 we see that the nest consists of four distinct layers : first, the 

 soft silken lining, then a cover of leaf- fragments, then a pro- 



