and surveyed his domicile with evident satisfaction ; then, flying 

 to the top of a tree, began singing most merrily. In half-an- 

 hour's time the hen-bird made her appearance, and, going into 

 the nest, remained there about five minutes, rounding the en- 

 trance by pressing it with her breast and the shoulders of her 

 wings. I'br the next hour she went out and came back five 

 times with fine moss in her bill, with which she adjusted a small 

 depression in the fore-part of it ; then, after twenty minutes' 

 absence, returned with a bundle of leaves to fill up a vacancy 

 which she had discovered in the back of the structure. Although 

 it was a cold morning, with wind and rain, the male bird sang 

 delightfully; but between seven and eight o'clock, either having 

 received a reproof from his wife for his indolence, or being 

 himself seized with an impulse to work, he began to help her, 

 and for the next ten minutes brought in moss, and worked at 

 the inside of the nest. At eleven o'clock both of them flew off, 

 either for a little recreation, or for their dinners, and were away 

 till a little after one. From this time till four o'clock both 

 worked industriously, bringing in fine moss ; then, during 

 another hour, the hen-bird brought in a feather three times. So 

 that day came to an end. 



" The next morning, June ist, they did not begin their work 

 early, as was evident to Mr. Weir, because having placed a 

 slender leaf-stalk at the entrance, there it remained till half-past 

 eight o'clock, when the two began to work as the day before 

 with fine moss, the he-bird leaving off, however, every now and 

 then to express his satisfaction on a near tree-top. Again, this 

 day, they went off either for dinner or amusement ; then came back 

 and worked for another hour, bringing in fine moss and feathers. 



