SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
as almoft to be taken by the hand. The different propenfities 
of animals, proceeding, from the different organs with which 
nature has furnifhed them, are no doubt modified and akered 
according to fituation and circumflances. Moft of the fmall 
birds of Southern Africa conflrud: their nefls in fuch a manner, 
that they can be entered only by one fmall orifice, and many 
fufpend them from the flender extremities of high branches. A 
fpecies ofloxia, or grofsbeak, always hangs its neft on a branch 
extending over a river or pool of water. It is fhaped exactly 
like a Chemifl's retort ; is fufpended from the head, and the 
fhank of eight or nine inches long, at the bottom of which is 
the aperture, almofl touches the water. It is made of green 
grafs, firmly put together, and curioufly woven. Another fmall 
bird, the Parus Capenfis^ or Cape Titmoufe, conflruds its 
luxurious nefl of the pappus or down of a fpecies of afclepias. 
This neft is made of the texture of flannel, and the fleecy 
hofiery is not more foft. Near the upper end projeds a fmall 
tube about an inch in length, with an orifice about three-fourths 
of an inch in diameter. Immediately under the tube, is a fmall 
hole in the fide, that has no communication with the interior 
part of the neft ; in this hole the male fits at nights, and thus 
they are both fcreened from the weather. The fparrow in 
Africa hedges round its neft with thorns ; and even the fwallow, 
under the eaves of houfes, or in the rifts of rocks, makes a tube 
to its neft of fix or feven inches in length. The fame kind of 
birds in Northern Europe, having nothing to apprehend from 
monkies, fnakes, and other noxious animals, conftrudt open 
nefts. 
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