SHADOW BIRDS AND THE HOUSES THEY BUILD. 251 



tiie papa and mamma birds never neglect them, and 

 seem to take pleasure in paying them every loving 

 attention. 



The central room is used as a pantry, and contains 

 a goodly supply of provisions ; while the small apart- 

 ment in front serves for a guard room, where the 

 owner, lying flat on the floor with his head thrust out 

 the door, watches sharply for coming danger. 

 Mr. Layard, in speaking of these birds, says : 

 " On my late friend Jackson's farm at Nils Port 

 there is a singular rocky glen between two hills. 

 In this spot a beautiful spring, that is never dry, takes 

 its rise. Of course, there are a few wild almond and 

 other trees; indeed, the place is a little oasis amid 

 the barren mountains, and is a favorite resort for 

 hyenas, jackals, leopards, and other wild animals. 

 On the ledges of rocks in this secluded spot a fam- 

 ily of shadow birds have for years built their nests. 

 Some of these nests are so placed that it is impossible 

 to get at them, but others can be reached with a little 

 trouble. I counted six or eight within fifty yards, all 

 built in pretty much the same way. About some of 

 them that I visited I found bits of brass, bone but- 

 tons, broken crockery, bleached bones, and such 

 things. Mr. Jackson told me that if any of the ne- 

 groes lost a knife, or any small object belonging to 

 them, that could be easily carried away, on the farm 

 or within some miles of the place, the loser made 

 a point of looking for the missing property among 

 the nests, and was often successful in finding it 

 there." 



