270 BIRDS' NESTS 



and a stranger species. From these we have passed 

 to those birds that make the crudest nest forms, and 

 through them have reached such species that hide 

 their homes away in concealed or covered sites. Our 

 next division has included the builders of the open 

 type of nest, a type that is not only extremely com- 

 mon, but adopted by the members of almost every 

 great group in the avine kingdom. Passing on we 

 reach the more complicated type of a domed or roofed 

 nest, in which we may fairly assume that the architec- 

 tural skill of birds has attained to a very high level ; 

 and that, in my own opinion, reaches its absolute 

 climax in the builders of pendulous nests which have 

 formed the subject of our closing chapter. 



I may conclude the present volume by quoting 

 some very beautiful lines on a Peacock's feather, 

 the sentiments of which as aptly apply to the Nests 

 of Birds : — 



In Nature's workshop but a shaving, 



Of her poem but a word. 

 But a tint brushed from her palette, 



This feather of a bird ! 

 Yet set it in the sun glance, 



Display it in the shine, 

 Take graver's lense, explore it, 



Note filament and line, 

 Mark amethyst to sapphire, 



And sapphire to gold, 

 And gold to emerald changing 



The archetype unfold ! 

 Tone, tint, thread, tissue, texture. 



Through every atom scan, 



