CHAPTER HI 



THE CRUDEST NEST FORMS 



Apparent development of nest-building art — Illustrated by nest of Bullfinch 

 — By nests of Crows — By nests of "Willow Wrens" — Importance of nesting 

 conditions — The most skilful nest-builders — Crude nest-forms of Ratitse Birds 

 — Nidification of the Ostrich — Of the Falcons — Of certain Owls — Of the 

 Coraciiformes — Of the Psittaciformes^ Of the Cuculiformes — Of certain 

 Cuckoos — Of the Columbiformes — Peculiarity in nests of Pigeons — Of certain 

 Tyrant Birds — Of the Pediophli or Sand Grouse — Of the Game Birds or Galli- 

 formes — Similarity of architecture in this order — Nests of the Charadriiformes 

 —Of the Bustards— Of the Oyster-catchers— Of the Stilts— Of the Woodcocks— 

 Ofthejacanas — Of the Crab Plover — Crude nest-forms of the Divers — Of the 

 Penguins — Of the Procellariiformes — Of the Lariformes — Nests of the Noddy 

 Tern— Of the Skuas— Of the typical Gulls— Of the Black-headed Gull— Of the 

 Ducks aud allied Birds — Of the Mergansers — Uses of down in these nests — 

 Number of crude nest-builders— The state of the young when hatched. 



As we pointed out in the previous chapter, a nestless 

 state must not in any way be taken as an indication 

 of any lack of intelligence, so may we also here insist 

 that the crudest nest-builders are not necessarily 

 wanting in that special quality of mental development. 

 Neither must we assume that every type of nest, from 

 the crudest to the most elaborate structure, repre- 

 sents, or is any indication of a gradual development 

 of mental powers applied to avine architecture. Nests, 

 we may again assert, are purely and simply utilitarian 

 structures, and their plan and degree of elaborateness 

 are controlled by the special conditions under which 



