DOMED OR ROOFED NESTS 243 



dead grass and leaves. This nest he found to be 

 a very compact structure writh a hidden entrance in 

 the side just large enough to admit the bird. All the 

 nests of this species found subsequently by him were 

 built in exposed situations, and resembled bunches of 

 drift grass. Another species, breeding in Brazil, and 

 locally known as the " Ferreirinho," or Little Smith 

 {T. maculatum), builds a similarly domed nest. One 

 of these has been most carefully described by Dr 

 Goeldi, to whom we are indebted for the following 

 particulars. It was built near the extremity of a 

 short branch of an " abin " tree about twenty-three 

 feet from the ground, somewhat well concealed in the 

 central part of the crown, and is described as a bag- 

 like structure with an entrance hole in the side, the 

 latter being small and circular, and provided with a 

 sort of porch or protecting roof, as we have already 

 seen is a feature in the nests of some Sun-birds. The 

 principal material of which the nest is made is the 

 fibres of palm-tree leaves and bits of straw. Many of 

 these fibres hang down in a loose and slovenly manner 

 far below the bulk of the nest, whilst the upper part 

 of the structure, including the portion connecting it 

 to the branch, is similarly prolonged into a horn-like 

 mass. Possibly the very carelessness of its construc- 

 tion forms one of its best safeguards, as it might 

 readily be taken for a mere lodgment of rubbish 

 amongst the clustering leaves in which it has been so 

 cunningly placed. 



