262 THE UNIVERSE. 



the curious domestic arrangements of some species of the 

 genus Homrain of French naturahsts^ the males of which, 

 at the time of laying, imjorison the female in her nest. 

 They close the entrance to it by means of a thick wall of 

 mud, leaving only a small hole by which the hen breathes 

 and protrudes her beak to receive her food. To this, in- 

 deed, her too stern spouse brings every moment some 

 morsel for her to peck at, for to his praise be it said, that 

 though he is barbarous enough to immure her, he feeds 

 her with the most tender solicitude. This enforced retire- 

 ment only ceases with the termination of the hatching, when 

 the pair break the prison-door. 



In his voyage to India Sonnerat speaks of a Cape tit- 

 mouse, the nest of which, shaped like a bottle and made of 

 cotton, merits notice. Whilst the female is hatching in- 

 side, the male, a most watchful sentinel, remains outside, 

 resting in a pouch made for the purpose, fixed to one side 

 of the neck of the nest. But when his mate moves off and 

 he wishes to follow her, he beats the opening of the nest 

 violently with his wing, and succeeds in closing it, in order 

 to protect his young from enemies. 



In re.spect to ingenuity of construction developed by 

 the love of family and work, there is nothing that can be 

 compared to the doings of the sociable grossbeak. This 

 little Cape bird, of the size and appearance of our spar- 

 rows, lives in numerous societies, all the members of 

 which unite to form an immense city, having the appear- 

 ance of a circular timber-work, embracing the tiunk of 

 some great tree. There are sometimes more than 300 little 

 cells, vv'hich means that it is inhabited by more than COO 

 birds. This nest is so heavy, that Levaillant, who brought 

 one away during his travels in Africa, was obliged to em- 

 ploy a waggon and several men to remove it. When they 



