Xll 
PLAN OF STUDY. 
floating, it would be wrong to deny, tbougli there can be little 
doubt that Linnaeus, 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 \\ou^Q, Jluctivaga 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, ‘‘ 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. t Brit. Zool. ii. 395. 
Ibid, page 399. 
