xii 



PLAN OF STUDY. 



floating, it would be wrong to deny, though there can be little 

 doubt that Linnseus, who was much too credulous of wonders, 

 magnified a chance occurrence into a general rule. The story of 

 the mother bird navigating her nest when it has been carried 

 away by a flood, is altogether incredible ; for the nest is not only 

 constructed of a bedding of reeds, rushes, and other water plants, 

 more than a foot in thickness ; but the feet of the bird are so broad 

 and clumsy, as will be seen by the annexed cut, that they could 

 not be thrust through it without entirely destroying its texture. 



Pennant, however, seems to believe this nonsense, for he adds 

 to the account — " in these circumstances the Halcyon's nest, its 

 floating house, fluctivaga domus, as Statius* expresses it, may, in 

 some measure, be vindicated."! The same author also is more 

 particular about the floating of the nest, which he says is built 

 near " banks, in the water ; but without any fastening, so that it 

 rises and falls as that does. To make its nest, it collects an 

 amazing quantity of grass, water-plants, &c. ;" and he adds, 44 it 

 should seem wonderful how they are hatched, as the water rises 

 through the nest and keeps them wet ; but the natural warmth of 

 the bird bringing on a fermentation in the vegetables, which are 

 full a foot thick, makes a hot-bed fit for the purpose.":): If our 



* Statius, Thebaid, ix. 360. f Brit. Zool. ii. 395. 



t Ibid, page 399. 



