GROUND FINCHES. 
171 
canopy, 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 rain-water 
run off, and preserves each little dwelling from the 
rain. Ihgure to yourself a huge irregular, sloping 
roof, all the eaves of which are completely covered 
with nests crowded one against another, and you will 
have a tolerably accurate idea of their 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 
others, at the sides. According to Paterson, the 
number of cells increasing in proportion to the 
increase of inhabitants, the old ones become “ streets 
of communication formed by line and level.” No 
doubt, as the republic increases the cells must be 
multiplied also ; but it is easy to imagine that, as the 
augmentation can take place only at the surface, the 
new buildings will necessarily cover the old ones, 
which must therefore be abandoned. 
“ The largest nest that I examined was one of the 
most considerable I had anywhere seen in the course 
of my journey, and contained three hundred and 
twenty inhabited cells, w'hich, supposing a male and 
female to each, w'ould form a society of six hundred 
and forty individuals. Such a calculation, however, 
would not be exact,” as it appears that in every flock 
