Some Foreign Bird Architects. 



ably solid structure, the materials of which it is built 

 consisting of mud and clay, further stiffened by the 

 admixture of grass, vegetable fibres, and the stems of 

 various plants. But to fully appreciate what a wonder- 

 ful piece of work this large nest really is, one must 

 carefully divide a specimen in half, so as to obtain a 

 dear view of the interior. There one discovers that 

 crossing the nest from side to side is a kind of parti- 

 tion wall, composed of the same materials as the outer 

 wall and reaching nearly to the top of the dome of 

 the nest; so that, practically, the nest is divided into 

 two chambers, the inner chamber being lined with a 

 soft bed of feathers, on which the eggs are deposited. 

 Considering the complex character of the nest, it is 

 constructed in a remarkably short space of time, the 

 birds labouring with untiring zeal at their task, so that 

 a nest is often completed in the space of some five or 

 six days. Both cock and hen birds work with equal 

 enthusiasm at the construction of the nest, flying back- 

 wards and forwards carrying beakfuls of mud and clay. 

 This is first of all spread out with the aid of beak and 

 claw so as to make a regular and firm foundation, and 

 then the birds begin to build upon its edges the rim 

 of the nest, which at first slopes slightly outwards. 

 Gradually, layer upon layer, the nest is in this way 

 built up, until the dome is completed. The entrance 

 to the nest is at one side, and is a fairly high, narrow 

 opening with a curved margin, about two inches wide 

 and nearly four inches high, large enough to permit 

 the ready ingress and egress of the birds. The natives 

 appear to have many curious superstitions concerning 

 the Oven Bird, for which they have considerable affec- 



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