brecdhu) Rcfiidt.s til Park Lodfic A viaries. 
are not easily seen, are white, but wliere the egg-s are, so to 
si)cak, "on view" tliey are coloured., to render them less con- 
spicuous. A\'hite is, of couise, the most conspicuous colour of 
all— compare the wiiite daisy witli the yellow buttercup. The 
entrance to these wonderful domed nests is exti-emely small 
and often most diilicult to find, so tliat tlie eggs, which are 
tiny and oval, are never visible fioni the exterioi' in oi-dinarv 
circumstances. Many Waxbills such as Orange-cheeked and 
Pink-cheeked build on, or quite near, the ground, and deliber- 
ately cover the roof with any bits of rubbish such as dried 
excreta, odd bits of shell, and once I renienibor a mummified 
young bird, which had died in the callow-stage. The reason 
is sufficiently obvious, viz. : to conceal the nest, and verv 
effectually it does so. 
