1 84 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



woven into long sacks, gradually increasing in size towards the bottom, 

 with an elongated slit in the side, so constructed as to exclude rain. 

 These wonderful structures are sometimes two yards in length ; and 

 when numerous, as they hang suspended from the branches of trees, 

 give a singularly novel aspect to the landscape. 



Miraculous indeed is the produce of these little workers. And a 

 fresh wonder is how the birds contrive to enter a nest on the wing 

 when the opening seems scarcely so large as their body, and yet they 

 do so without disturbing a feather. The hut of some savage races 

 is left constantly open, their intelligence not suggesting a protecting 



Fig. 76. — Nest of Tailor Bird. 



Fig. 77- — Nests of Sociable or Republican Birds. 



door. In M. Jeudon's book on the "Birds of India," he speaks of a 

 bird found there which, when the female begins to lay, the male 

 encloses her in their nest by shutting up the door with a thick mud 

 wall, leaving a small opening only sufficient for the female to breathe 

 and receive her food ; but we should add that this severe husband 

 is not forgetful of his responsibility, but every few minutes conveys 

 nourishment to the enclosed prisoner. 



Sonnerat, in his " Voyage to India," speaks of a Cape Tit, the 

 nest of which is in the form of a bottle, and composed of cotton. 

 While the female hatches the eggs, the male, like a true sentinel, 

 maintains a strict watch on a specially-formed resting-place^ built 

 on one of the sides. Finally, for ingenious construction, instigated 



