OPEN NESTS 163 



feathers. Although the general shape and size of 

 these nests present considerable variation, they may 

 all be said to be fashioned on one plan. What- 

 ever their form and bulk may be they all culminate 

 in a cup-shaped receptacle, in which the two tiny 

 white eggs are deposited. The sites chosen for them 

 vary considerably in the different species, but there 

 are none in which the nest can fairly be classed as 

 pensile. The favourite or most general situation is 

 for the nest to be attached to the upper surface of 

 a horizontal or obliquely growing twig. Other nests 

 are fastened to the extremities of long flat leaves ; 

 others suspended like hammocks from twigs ; others 

 yet again are cemented or glued to cliffs and thick 

 branches by spiders' webs ; whilst some are fixed in 

 clusters of drooping leaves. A few of these beautiful 

 nests may now be described in greater detail. 



One of the simplest forms of Humming-birds' nests 

 is that made by the Frilled Coquette (Lophornis mag- 

 nificus), a simple little cup formed of down and fibres, 

 the materials of the under surface and one side being 

 worked round the slanting branch or twig that sup- 

 , ports it, whilst a garniture of lichens on the outer 

 walls serves to assimilate the whole structure with 

 its surroundings. Another equally simple nest is 

 made by the Ruby-throat (Trochihis colubris). This 

 is a tiny cup about the size of one-half of an ordinary 

 walnut-shell, also fabricated of vegetable down, won- 

 derfully neatly lined with the same, and studded 



