184 , 
ON THE CLASSIFICATION OP BIRDS. 
nest, which is pretty large in comparison with the size 
of the bird. The shape is like the egg of an ostrich, 
and not much less in size ; tlie longer diameter six 
inches, the shorter three inches and a half. This is 
fixed on the forked twig of a poplar, surrounding it 
with wool; employing the downy part of the poplar 
flower and such other materials as are made use of by 
the former bird. This (nest) is also open on one side ; 
hut the entrance (is) more surprising, for it (the bird) 
constructs a kind of portico over it (the aperture), pro- 
jecting almost three quarters of an inch, whereby there 
is an additional security against accidents from wind, 
rain, and other inconveniences.”* Befr-'e closing our 
account of the gradual change from fixed to pendulous 
nests, we are tempted to mention that of the bird called 
by Linmeus Parn.f capmmsf (but which stands in our 
MS. Mgithulus mpensis), because, if there is no exag- 
geration in the account, which rests on the authority of 
Sonneratji, it is still more complicated than the two 
which we have last described. The form of the nest 
is purse, or bottle, shaped, which is suspended on a 
branch, but not at its extremity. It is composed of a 
kind of cotton plant, and placed in the most thorny 
thickets. The neck, or upper part of the nest, is nar- 
row, and on the outside is a sort of additional nest, or 
rather portico, which .serves to lodge the male, while 
the female is sitting or taking care of her young within. 
But now comes the extraordinary part of the account, 
“ It is said, when the female goes out of the nest the 
male strikes against the outside with aU the force of his 
wing, by which the edges of the entrance collapse too-e- 
ther, so as to prevent the intrusion of any thing to tn- 
jure the young in her absence.” Mr. Barrow, who 
writes as an eye-witness, makes no mention of this ex- 
traordinary proceeding. The following is his account : 
• General History, toI. ti!. p. 263. 
+ Figured and describ^ ns 
vide 
t J;igured and nesenoM ^ a new species by the name of E. SmtUiL 
ide Jardine and Selby, IlluKtrations of Ornithology pi cxiit fie 1 
t VoyaKcaux Ind™ M a la Chine vol. ii. p. KXi.’pl.' lis., "as quoted in 
Sonnini’a Buflbn, vol xvi, p. BiJO. ; also General History, voL xii. p. BC4. 
