320 



THE PHILOSOPHY 



eagle is quite flat, and not hollow, like thofe of other birds. The male 

 and female commonly place their neft between two rocks, in a 

 dry and inacceflible fituation. The fame neft, it is faid, ferves the 

 eagle during life. The ftrudure is fo confiderable, and compofed 

 of fuch folid materials, that it may laft many years. Its form re- 

 fembles that of a floor. Its bafis confifts of fl:icks about five or fix 

 feet in length, which are fupported at each end, and thefe are cover- 

 ed with feveral layers of ruflies and heath. An eagle's neft was 

 found in the Peak of Derbyfliire, which Willoughby defcribes iii 

 the following manner : * It was made of great fticks, refting one end 

 on the edge of a rock, the other on a birch tree. Upon thefe was 

 a layer of ruQies, and over them a layer of heath, and on the 

 heath rufties again; upon which lay one young, and an addle egg; 

 and by them a lamb, a hare, and three heath pouts. The neft was 

 about two yards fquare, and had no hollow in it.' But the butcher- 

 birds, or fhrikes, which are lefs rapacious than eagles and hawks, 

 build their habitations in fhrubs and bufhes, and employ mofs, wool, 

 and other foft materials. 



The birds belonging to the order of Pies in the ingenious Mr 

 Pennant's Genera of Birds, are extremely irregular in conftruding 

 their iiefts. The common magpies build their nefts in trees, and 

 their ftriidure is admirably contrived for affording warmth and 

 protedlion to the young. The neft is not open at top : It is cover- 

 ed, in the moft dexterous manner, with an arch or dome, and a 

 fmall opening in the fide of it is left, to give the parents an oppor- 

 tunity of pafling in and out at their pleafure. To protedt their eggs 

 and young from the attacks of other animals, the magpies place, 

 all round the external furface of their neft, fharp briars and thorns. 

 The long-tailed ticmoufe, or ox-eye, builds nearly like the wren, but 

 with ftill greater art. With the fame materials as the reft of the 

 ftrufture, the titmoufe builds an arch over the top of the neft, which 

 J ^^ refembles 



