DWELLINGS. 175 



The Anthocopa acts in a similar manner, carpetingr 

 the holes of which it takes possession with the delicate 

 petals of the corn poppy. 



The retreats of nocturnal birds of prey do not 

 differ in method of construction from these two kinds 

 of nests. They are holes in trees, in ruins, in old walls, 

 and are lined with soft and warm material. These 

 dwellings are related, not to the type of the hollowed 

 cave, but to that of the habitation manufactured 

 from mingled materials. They constitute an inferior 

 form in which the pieces are not firmly bound together 

 but need support throughout. The cavity is the 

 support which sustains the real house. 



Dwellings formed of coarsely-entangled materials. — 

 Diurnal birds of prey are the first animals who 

 practise skilfully the twining of materials. Their 

 nests, which have received the name of eyries, are 

 not yet masterpieces of architecture, and reveal the 

 beginning of the industry which is pushed so far by 

 other birds. Usually situated in wild and inaccessible 

 spots, the young are there in safety when their 

 parents are away on distant expeditions. The abrupt 

 summits of cliffs and the tops of the highest forest 

 trees are the favourite spots chosen by the great birds 

 of prey. The eyrie generally consists of a mass of 

 dry branches which cross and mutually support one 

 another, constituting a whole which is fairly resistant. 



Even these primitive nests are not, however, with- 

 out more complicated details of interest. Thus Mr. 

 Denis Gale wrote to Bendire concerning the Golden 

 Eagle in America : " Here in Colorada, in the 

 numerous glades running from the valleys into the 

 foothills, high inaccessible ledges are quite frequently 

 met with which afford the Eagles secure sites for their 



