BIRDS. 
321 
larly as three-fourths of it appeared to be entirely useless 
and idly made; for the part which was to contain the 
eggs, and which was alone indispensable, was not more 
than three inches from the surface. All the rest of this 
edifice, which was a tissue closely and laboriously woven 
of slender threads taken from the bark of certain shrubs, 
seemed to be totally useless. The interior of the nest was 
not furnished with any sort of soft material, such as down, 
wool, or hair ; but as the female had not laid her eggs when 
Klaas brought it to me, it is probable that the nest was 
not quite finished ; a fact, indeed, proved by the birds being 
still at work at the time.” * 
In Jamaica, we have seen an interesting nest made by a 
Nest of Banana-bird. 
Starling, of brilliant black and yellow plumage, and pro- 
* “Ois. d’Afrique,” iii 129. 
X 
