256 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



stalk by the end, flies into the bush, and hops round from twig 

 to twig in circular fashion, so that the stem is left entangled in a 

 circle or half-circle ; then off she goes for a second ; until at 

 length there is a pile of tangled material somewhat depressed in 

 the centre. Now she sits down, and begins turning round, 

 tucking in ends ; then off she goes again for a scrap of moss or 

 wool, and tucks that in ; then perhaps there is a little strengthen- 

 ing of the outer wails by tucking in ends, twisting an end of wool 

 round a twig, and so on. The soft inner lining is formed in the 

 most mechanical manner ; the bird collects mouthful after 

 mouthful of wool, cow-hair, feathers, or any soft material, and 

 carries it into the nest, until the cup appears almost full ; then 

 she sits down, scratches with her feet, and turns round and round 

 until she has moulded it with her body into a compact felted 

 inner cup. The addition of a few horse-hairs generally com- 

 pletes the little structure.* All cup -shaped nests are formed 

 much in the same manner, though some birds use sticks, thorny 

 twigs, straws, or roots, where others use grasses ; some strengthen 

 the outer nest with muddy roots, with clay, or cow-dung, where 

 others use wool, vegetable fibre, and spiders' web. The lining 

 also varies, the Song-Thrush using mud or cow-dung, and 

 moulding it with her body until it resembles the inside of haK a 

 cocoanut-shell. 



There is far more art in the construction of a domed nest, 

 and it necessarily takes the architects much longer; it is all 

 built up bit by bit, of more or less mixed materials, if it be the 

 nest of a Wren or a Tit ; and the outside is sometimes decorated 

 with fragments of lichen attached by means of cobweb. It is 

 this which renders the Long-tailed Tit's nest so beautiful an 

 object. If a soft lining is required, soft feathers are frequently 

 used, and the bird entering the cavity, twisting and turning, 

 pushes up with its head, and pokes the ends of the shafts into 

 the walls. 



The Weaving Finches (Ploceidce), excepting when they build 

 in holes or other convenient receptacles, have to work both in- 

 dustriously and cleverly before their home is ready ; but only in 

 a few instances is the labour confined to one sex, the nest being 



* The Chaffinch, however, frequently sticks bits of lichen all over the 

 outside walls of her nest. 



