INTELLIGENCE IN BIRDS. 115 
and juicy. The humming birds avoid the neutral tinted 
flowers, though equally provided with honey nectaries, 
and seek those of brilliant dyes. Some of the vireos 
ornament the outside of their nests with patches of co- 
coons, spider-webs and other bits of delicate white sub- 
stances, thus giving the well-built structure a very neat 
and unique appearance. The humming birds often use 
bits of moss, with which they cover the entire exterior 
of the nest, arranging all the pieces in the most artistic 
and ingenious manner. There certainly is a motive for 
this extra labor: it is either for protection or attraction ; 
for concealment or ornamentation. We might attribute 
it to the former purpose were it not that often the moss 
is intertwined with beautiful and showy feathers, so ar- 
ranged as to make the structure still more conspicuous, 
especially if it is placed well out of the reach of all danger. 
Mr. Gould, the naturalist, tells us that bower birds of 
New South Wales, at mating times, build play houses 
and deck them with variegated materials, especially 
glittering substances. The males vie with oné another 
in this work of ornamentation, plainly exhibiting pride 
and emulation in their artistic labors. In these ornate 
houses the loving pairs disport themselves with every 
exhibition of satisfaction and delight. These accounts 
are corroborated by many other reliable writers: some 
of the incidents related of these wonderful birds are as 
marvelous and as interesting as the history of the 
Lilliputians. 
Many of the feathered tribe manifest real pleasure at 
the execution of simple harmonies. They enjoy the 
