182 AETISTS AND AETISANS IN THE FEATHEEED WOELD. 



beautiful, a very large edifice in proportion to the dimen- 

 sions of the architect. Cottony down, flaxen fibres and 

 fine moss are felted together in so skillful a way as to 

 excite our sincere delight. A pair of copociers, being 

 watched during their hard work, were occupied for a 

 whole week in their task. One of these nests will some- 

 times reach nine inches in height. 



The schapu, crested oriole (Cassicus cristatus), in South 

 America, fixes its wonderful nest on very high trees. It 

 has the form of a very long, slender bag, round at the 

 bottom, often four or five feet long, hung on a thin twig, 

 where there is also the entrance. The shape and the 

 flexible material of the nest leave it entirely to the mercy 

 of the wind, swaying it if even the softest zephyr blows. 

 The bird weaves and felts this nest of cillandsia threads 

 and other similar; material so artistically and firmly that 

 one can hardly tear it. Often two nests, with one com- 

 mon entrance, are built side by side ; the annex then 

 serves as a dormitory for the male. 



From the felt manufacturers we come to the dome- 

 huilders^ called so on account of the peculiar shape of 

 their nests, which are always covered from above by 

 means of a cupola-shaped dome. Examples are the nest 

 of the common wren (Troglodytes vulgaris), the gold 

 crest (Regelus cristatus), etc. The nest of the former is 

 rather large in comparison with the size of the architect ; 

 it is usually oval in its form, with a dome-like roof, and 

 with a small entrance either at the end or at the side. 

 It nearly always contains green moss, besides many dif- 

 ferent kinds of material, wood, grass, leaves, little soft 

 twigs, so that these birds might just as well be counted 

 among the weavers or felt-makers, unless we place them 

 in a special group on account of the peculiar shape of 

 their buildings. Usually the outer wall consists of dry 

 leaves, plant stalks, and tender twigs, then follows a very 



closely and firmly woven layer of moss and, as the inner- 



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