THE OVEN BIED. 



311 



and the female has a ciy of somewhat similar sound, but m\ich 

 weaker. 



The chief interest of this bird centres in its nest, which is a 

 truly remarkable example of bird architecture. The material of 

 which it is made is principally mud or clay obtained from the 

 river banks, but it is strengthened and stiffened by the admixture 

 of grass, vegetable fibres, and stems of various plants. The 





heat of the sun is suflBcient to harden it, and when it has been 

 thoroughly dried, it is so strong that it seems more like the 

 handiwork of some novice at pottery than a veritable nest con- 

 structed by a bird, the fierce heat of the tropical sun baking the 

 clay nearly as hard as brick. 



The ordinary shape of the nest may be seen by reference to 

 the illustration, which is drawn from a remarkably fine speci- 

 men in the British Museum. It is domed, rounded, and has 



