THE WEAVER-BIRD'S NEST. 191 



ling timber, the stroke of whose ponderous axes sent 

 forth a thousand faint vibrations through the vale. 



In the course of my rambles I observed several 

 nests of the Loocia, or weaver-bird, which were 

 suspended from the branches of a mimosa tree, and 

 succeeded with some difficulty in obtaining them. 

 " The singular contrivance of this bird in constructing 

 its nest for the protection of its young from the 

 attacks of reptiles and monkeys, which abound in the 

 woods, is truly surprising. To increase the difficulty 

 of access to these tree-rocked cradles, they usually im- 

 pend over a river or precipice, while the entrance is 

 always from below, and frequently through a cylin- 

 drical passage of twelve or fifteen inches in length, 

 projecting from the spherical nest, exactly like the 

 tube of a chemist's retort. The whole fabric is most 

 ingeniously and elegantly woven of a species of 

 very tough grass ; and the wonderful instinct or 

 foresight, or whatever else we may choose to call it, 

 displayed by the little architect in its construction, 

 is calculated to excite the highest admiration*:" 



" The slender sprays above the flood 

 Suspend the loxia's callow brood, 

 In cradle-nests, with porch below, 

 Secure from wing'd or creeping foe, 

 (Weasel, or hawk, or writhing snake,) 

 Wild waving as the breezes wake, 

 Like ripe fruit hanging, fair to see, 

 Upon the rich pomegranate tree." 



* Pringle's African Sketches. 



