536 



HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



extremity of a branch, and in some cases is so constructed that it 

 almost deserves to be ranked among the pensiles. It is always a 

 pretty nest, and the accompanying illustration conveys a good 

 idea of its general form. It is always more or less cup-like in 

 shape, but the comparative depth of the cup is very variable, as 

 in some cases it is scarcely deeper in proportion than that of the 

 goldfinch and rather saucei shaped while in others the depth 





f<: 



(jOLUES O lULLa AND NEar 



even exceeds the width. Perhaps the nest may be altered in 

 shape after the female begins to deposit her eggs, as is known to 

 be the case with many birds, the additions being always made 



to the margin. 



It is a remarkable fact that this enlargement of the nest 

 should be common both to birds and insects. The reader mav 



