Birds’ Nests and Eggs 
said to be arranged in tiers, with the smaller ends pointing towards 
the centre. It is curious to note that if the female bob-white is 
killed after the eggs are laid, the male bird takes upon himself the 
entire duty of incubating. This may not be an invariable rule, but 
a number of instances have been reported by reliable observers. 
Robins will sometimes build their nests in buildings or bridges 
with no vegetation in the immediate vicinity of the nest, and 
mocking-birds have chosen fence rails and other such queer places 
for their building sites. 
In parts of the old world and in South America will be found 
birds that build extraordinary nests and have curious habits. The 
male hornbills have a remarkable custom of incarcerating the female 
in a hole in a tree during the period of incubation, by sealing up 
the entrance with mud, leaving a small opening through which 
she is supplied with food. Should the male be killed it is a ques- 
tion whether or not the female could free herself. This habit is 
doubtless a method of protection. 
The nest of the tailor-bird is a good example of the skill dis- 
played by birds in building and concealing their homes. They 
sew the edges of a large growing leaf round the nest, so that it is 
absolutely hidden from view. The bower-birds use queer ma- 
terials, such as bones, pieces of metal, shells, etc., but perhaps the 
greatest curiosity supplied by birds is the nest of the esculent 
swift, known commonly as the edible bird’s-nest, so much appre- 
ciated by the Chinese as a table luxury. 
These are but.a few examples of the endless variety to be 
found in bird architecture. Itisa subject a full treatment of which 
would fill many volumes, and it is a study offering unusual attrac- 
tions to all who want to do ‘‘ original work” in nature subjects. 
15 
