296 
ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE. 
huge nest for the whole society. L. Valiant's account has been 
fully confirmed by other travellers. He says : 6 1 observed on the 
way a tree with an enormous nest of these birds, which I have 
called republicans; and as soon as I arrived at my camp I de- 
spatched a few men with a waggon to bring it to me, that I might 
open and examine the hive. When it arrived, I cut it in pieces 
with a hatchet, and saw that the chief portion of the structure 
consisted of a mass of Boshman’s grass, without any mixture, 
but so compact and firmly basketed together as to be impene- 
trable to the rain. This is the commencement of the structure, 
and each bird builds its particular nest under this canopy. But 
the nests are formed only beneath the eaves, the upper surface 
remaining void, without, however, being useless ; for as it has a 
projecting rim, and is a little inclined, it serves to let the water 
run off, and preserves each little dwelling from the rain. Figure 
to yourself a huge irregular sloping roof, all the eaves of which 
are covered with nests, crowded one against another, and you 
will have a tolerably accurate idea of these singular edifices. 
Each individual nest is three or four inches in diameter, which 
is sufficient for the bird; but, as they are all in contact with one 
another around the eaves, they appear to the eye to form but 
one building, and are distinguishable from each other only by a 
little external aperture which serves as an entrance to the nest; 
and even this is sometimes common to three different nests, one 
of which is situated at the bottom and the other two at the 
sides. This large nest, which was one of the most considerable 
I had anywhere seen in the course of my journey, contained 
320 inhabited cells, which, supposing a male and female to each, 
would form a society of 640 individuals ; but as these birds are 
polygamous, such a calculation would not be exact.’ 
The following is quoted from Conch ( 6 Illustrations of 
Instinct,’ p. 227 et seq .) : — 
Mr. Waterton says there is a peculiarity in the nidification 
of the domestic swan too singular to be passed over without 
notice. At the time it lays its first egg the nest which it has 
prepared is of very moderate size ; but as incubation proceeds 
we see it increase vastly in height and breadth. Every soft 
material, such as pieces of grass and fragments of sedges, is laid 
hold of by the sitting swan as they float within her reach, and 
are added to the nest. This work of accumulation is performed 
by her during the entire period of incubation, be the weather 
wet or dry, settled or unsettled ; and it is perfectly astonishing 
to see with what assiduity she plies her work of aggrandisement 
