SOUTHERN AFRICA. 323 
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 altered 
according to fituation and circumftances. Moft of the fmall 
birds of Southern Africa conftrud: their nefts 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 of loxia, or grofsbeak, always hangs its neft on a branch 
extending over a river or pool of water. It is fhaped exa£tly 
like a Chemift's retort ; is fufpended from the head, and the 
fhank of eight or nine inches long, at the bottom of which is 
the aperture, almoft touches the water. It is made of green 
grafs, firmly put together, and curioufly woven. Another fmall 
bird, the Parus Capenfts, or Cape Titmoufe, conftrudls its 
luxurious neft 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 projects a fmali 
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, conftru<^^ open 
nefts. 
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