58 A NATURALIST'S WANBERINGS 



nests, -whiek had been blown down before being properly- 

 secured, or were they, perhaps, abandoned unsuccessful first 

 attempts ? They had the exact shape of tiny key baskets, suck 

 as are used by housewives, one end being weighted with a layer 

 of clay. I was also struck by the fact that different indi- 

 viduals had adopted different forms of nests, wkick, though 

 agreeing fundamentally, exhibited considerable variation. 



The bulk of them were of the 

 retort shape, set with a long- 

 necked orifice hanging down- 

 ward, but a considerable number, 

 of the progressionist party per- 

 haps, kad inaugurated a new 

 ABANDONED NEST-FODNDATioN, fashiou by inverting the retort 



and shortening the neck, giving 

 the doorway an upward and forward entrance, which, if more 

 enticing to depredators, may perhaps be less awkward to 

 the owners. I much regret that I have no note as to the 

 position of the clay in this new form ; for what was previously 

 tke bottom of tke nest kad become a dome over tke bird, wkile 

 its eggs were laid in wkat would correspond in tke older pattern 

 witk tke upper curve of tke neck of tke retort, so tkat if my 

 belief is correct tkat tke use of tke clay is to retain tke nest 

 in its vertical position, it ougkt to be found occupying a 

 corresponding site in tke new structure. It is possible, kowever, 

 tkat the deviation from tke ancestral pattern may result from 

 an unequal distribution of clay during tke laying of tke 

 foundation of the nest, causing it to become reversed without 

 diverting the bird's purpose from completing its work as best 

 it could, under the altered conditions. 



One of the bird-cries that early attract attention is 

 the reiterated, unvaried call of the Bell-birds (Megalasniinm), 

 poured forth in long stretches from the top of some high 

 tree, where, from their plumage according so well with 

 the varied colours of the vegetation, they can select a perch 

 even in a prominent branch without fear of discovery. I 

 obtained five different species of these birds, which belong to 

 one of the most varied and beautiful-plumaged families, and of 

 which some idea may be obtained by turning over the pages of 

 Marshall's splendid monograph of the group. 



