260 THE COMMUNITIES OF BIRDS. 
The description given by Paterson appeared fabulous ; but it has 
been confirmed by Levaillant, who frequently encountered in Africa, 
studied, and investigated the strange 
community. The engraving given in 
the “ Architecture of Birds” enables the 
reader more readily to comprehend his 
narration. Itis the image of an im- 
mense umbrella planted on a tree, and 
shading under its common roof more 
than three hundred habitations. “I 
caused it to be brought to me,” says 
Levaillant, ‘by several men, who set it 
on a vehicle. I cut it with an axe, 
and saw that it was in the main a mass 
of Booschmannie grass, without any 
mixture, but so strongly woven together 
that it was impossible for the rain to 
penetrate. This is only the framework 
of the edifice; each bird constructs for 
himself a separate nest under the com- 
mon pavilion. The nests occupy only the 
reverse of the roof; the upper part remains 
empty, without, however, being useless ; for, 
raised more than the remainder of the pile, 
it cives to the whole a sufficient inclination, 
and thus preserves each little habitation. 
In two words, let the reader figure to him- 
i 
self a great oblique and irregular roof, whose 
Las in the interior is garnished with nests ranged 
SSS. close to one another, and he will have an exact 
idea of these singular edifices. 
‘Each nest is three or four inches in dia- 
meter, which is sufficiently large for the bird; 
but as they are in close contact around the roof, they appear to the 
