282 



THE UNIVEESE. 



lose his watch, his knife, or seal, it is useless to look in the 

 place where they have been dropped: they have been carried 

 off by the bower-birds of the district, and are always to 

 be found in the nearest of their walks. 



The discovery of this arbour of love being a quite un- 

 expected fact in ornithology, Mr. Gould was afraid that 

 his narrative might be received in Europe with suspicion; 

 he was accordingly anxious to bring a specimen as a proof 

 For this jDurpose, having carried away one of these pro- 

 menades, or "runs," he contrived, by dint of infinite care, to 

 transport it to the British Museum, where it can now be 

 admired. 



So soon as men became acquainted with the work it- 

 self they wanted to make trial of the workmen. One of 

 these rustic aixhitects was brought alive to the Zoological 

 Gardens at London. It was placed in a large room sur- 

 rounded by all the materials necessary for its edifice, but 

 the poor bird made a very sorry affair of it ; the air and sun 

 of its country were wanting, its courage was enervated. It 

 was as much as it could do to plant a few branches irregu- 

 larly in a heap of stones and earth which it had collected. 



CHAPTEE VI. 



NAVAL ARCHITECTUEE. 



Many very inexact statements have been made about 

 the naval buildings of certain birds. Fiction has de- 

 throned truth, and yet the latter is infinitely more interest- 

 ing than the tales which have been substituted for it. 



