THE CRUDEST NEST FORMS 81 



nest-building, another proof of the way in which 

 birds can construct nests in harmony with special 

 conditions, and unquestionably by the exercise of 

 reasoning powers, and profiting by experience. The 

 fact still further confirms our contention that nests 

 are purely utilitarian structures, and that the cruder 

 forms of cradle are just as well worthy of our 

 admiration as the higher forms of architectural 

 skill. We may rest assured that had a higher type 

 of nest been required, had a more elaborate cradle 

 been necessary, the birds that build these crude 

 structures would have developed much higher types 

 of architecture. So long as the inducement or the 

 necessity for something more elaborate is wanting 

 the cruder form of nest will be made, because it is 

 the one best in harmony with the special needs of 

 its feathered architect or designer. The reader will 

 therefore do well to compare the above remarks with 

 the descriptions given of other Gulls' nests in the 

 following pages in further proof of the assertion 

 (conf. p. 140). 



Our last great group of crude nest-builders com- 

 prises the ducks and allied birds associated together 

 in the great natural order Anseriformes. In this 

 assemblage, however, we find much variation in the 

 architectural qualities of the procreant cradle. The 

 Screamers, forming the very natural sub-order 

 Palamedeas, and the Flamingoes included in the 

 equally distinct sub-order Phoenicopteri, may fairly 



