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an hundred nests are often suspended from one tree, each contain- 

 ing a numerous family. The noise of these sociable birds is won- 

 derful, and their golden plumage glitters in the sun with great 

 splendour. The baya, under the name of the toddy-bird, was not 

 overlooked by a member of the Royal Society travelling in Guzc- 

 rat in the seventeenth century. " Nature," says this intelligent 

 writer, " affords us a pleasant spectacle, as well as matter for ad- 

 miration, in the toddy-bird; whereby I know not why we should 

 deny reason wholly to animals, unless it be, that man having so 

 much, they seem comparatively to have none. This bird is not 

 only exquisitely curious in the artificial composure of its nests 

 with hay, but furnished with devices and stratagems to secure it- 

 self and young ones from its deadly enemy the squirrel; as like- 

 wise from the injury of the weather; which, being unable to op- 

 pose, it eludes with this artifice, contriving the nest like a steeple- 

 hive, with winding meanders; before which hangs a penthouse 

 for the rain to pass; tying it by so slender a thread to the bough 

 of the tree that the squirrel dare not venture his body, though his 

 mouth waters at the eggs and prey within ; yet it is strong enough to 

 bear the hanging habitation of the ingenious contriver from all the 

 assaults of its antagonist, and all the accidents of gusts and storms. 

 Hundreds of these pendalous nests may be seen on these trees. 



The bottle-nested sparrow, taylor-bird, and sea-swallow, afford 

 a source of amusement and wonder in the construction of their 

 nests. Every bird's nest is indeed a matter of wonder when at- 

 tentively considered. Addison pertinently and beautifully asks, 

 " What can we call that principle which directs every different 

 kind of bird to observe a particular plan in the structure of its nest, 



