CONTENTS. X\- 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



FEATHERED BRANCH-BUILDERS (CONCLUDED). 



The Sedge-Wakbler— Its nest and loquacity— The Reed-Wakbler— Use of its 

 peculiar taU— Localities haunted by the bird — Song of the Reed- Warbler — Its 

 deep and beautifully balanced nest— Colour of the eggs— The Capocieii— Why 

 so called— Familiarity of the bird— Le Vaillant'e experiments— How the nest 

 is made — Division of labour— Lovers' quarrels — Structure of the nest — Hum 

 ming-birds again — The FiERT Topaz— Its nocturnal habits — Appearance of the 

 nest — Its shape and the materials of which it is made— The Hermit Hum- 

 MiNG-BiRDS and their nests— The Ruby-throated Humming Bird— Variable 

 dimensions of the nost — Concealment — Mr. Webber and his discoveries— Vari- 

 able form and positions of the nest — Materials of which it is made — Its de- 

 ceptive exterior — Feeding of the young — The Vervain Humming Bip.d — How 

 the nest assumes its shape — The Red-backed Shrike — Use of the Shrike — 

 Falconry^Their singular mode of feeding — Impaled prey — Conspicuous cha- 

 racter of the nest — Popular ideas concerning the Red-backed Shrike — Structure 

 of the nest— The Hedge Sparrow — Its proper title— Carelessness about its 

 nest — Foes of the Hedge Sparrow — Its fecundity . . 547 



CHAPTER XXX. 

 BRANCH BUILDERS. 



spiders and insects. 



Remai'kable Spider Nest in the British Museum — Seed-nests and Leaf-nests — 

 Nests of the Tufted Spider — Form and colouring of the Spider — Its curious 

 limbs — Nests illustrative of the hexagonal principle — Nest of the Ioaria — The 

 equal pressure and excavation theories — Nest of Mischoctttarus and its re- 

 markable fonn — Nest of the Raphigaster — Summary of the Argument — The 

 Pkocessionary Moth — Reasons for its name — How the larvae march — Damage 

 done by them to trees— A natui-al remedy — The Calosoma and its habits — The 

 Gipset Moth — Its ravages upon trees and mode of destroying it — The social 

 principle among Caterpillars — Mr. Rennie's experiments — The Lackey Moth — 

 Supposed derivation of its popular name— The eggs, larvae, and perfect insects — 

 Habits of the Moth — The Brown-tailed Moth — Locality where it is found — 

 Its ravages abroad — Nests of the Icaria as they appear in branches — The 



Apoica and its remarkable nests— Singular nests from the British Museum 



Nests discovered by Mr. Lord . . . . . .... . 56C 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



MISCELLANEA. 



The Polyzoa aud theii- varied and beautiful fomis — The Raft Spider— Why so- 

 called— Mode of obtaining prey — Mice and their homes — The Campagnol or 

 Harvest Mouse — Its general habits — its winter and summer nest— Its store- 

 house and provisions — Entrance to the nest — The Wood Mouse and its nest 



Uses of tlie Field Mice — The Domestic Mouse — Various nests — Rapiditv ot' 



