140 BIRDS' NESTS 



taken from the plants on which they are built, and 

 loosely laid on top and across each other, are placed 

 in conspicuous positions high up over the water or 

 soft mud, on the top of or amongst the bushy 

 growth, where they are fully exposed to the direct 

 sunshine. . . . From the binding nature of the spiny 

 twigs the nests last for a considerable time, and these 

 are certainly made use of again, possibly after more 

 or less repair. The same nest has been found in use 

 after an interval of seven months." The two or three 

 eggs are very similar in appearance to those of the 

 Corn Crake — double spotted — a fact which indicates 

 a more distant relationship with the true Galliformes 

 than many systematists seem to suspect. Lastly, 

 we may deal here with the nest of Bonaparte's 

 Gull (Larus Philadelphia). This North American gull 

 almost invariably appears to nest in trees and tall 

 bushes. It makes a substantial nest in the branches 

 composed externally of sticks, and lined with dry 

 grass, moss, lichen, and bits of dry reed. Several 

 nests are often made in a single tree. 



In the present chapter, instead of classifying nests 

 according to the peculiarities of their situation, it will 

 be better to confine ourselves, as far as possible, to a 

 taxonomic arrangement, not only because there is a 

 great similarity in the general plan of these open 

 nests (although the materials are diverse enough), but 

 almost every description of site may be met with in 

 each group (in not a few cases even in the same 



