PENBULOUS NESTS. 
187 
(160.) There is a third sort of pendulous nest, which 
is more remarkable in its construction than either those 
of the titmice or the cassicans ; but it seems to be con- 
structed by very few birds only. It is composed of 
two or three leaves, of a long and broad shape, w'hich 
tlte bird artfully unites together, and constructs the real 
nest within : the leaves, by this additional weight, of 
course become pendant, and hang by their natural stalks. 
Much obscurity hangs over tile true aflSnities of the 
celebrated little bird which builds this nest ; which is 
tlie Sylvia mtoria, or tailor warbler of the old writers. 
As we have never yet been able to examine a specimen 
either of the bird or its habitation, the reader must be 
contented with the following account given by Dr. 
Latham • : — “ This bird is chiefly remarkable for the 
nest, which is curiously constructed, being composed of 
two leaves, one of them dead: the latter is fixed to the 
living one, as it hangs on the tree, by sewing l»th 
together in the manner of a pouch or purse ; it is 
open at top, and the cavity filled wdth fine down, and 
being suspended from the branch, the birds are secure 
from the depredations of snakes and monkeys, to which 
they might otherwise fall a prey. In my own collec- 
tion,” continues our author, “is a nest of an equally 
singular construction ; it is composed of a single large 
leaf, of a fibrous, rough texture, about six inches long, 
independent of the stalk,' five inches and a half in 
breadtli, and ending in a point: the sides of this leaf 
are drawn together, so as to meet within three quarters 
of an inch : within this is the nest, which is about four 
inches deep, and two broarl, opening at the top, and the 
bottom of the leaf is drawn upwards, to assist in the 
support of it. Tliis inward nest is composed of white 
down, with here and there a feather, with a small por- 
tion of white down intermixed ; the stalk about five 
inches long. This was brought from China. Among 
the drawings of sir J. Anstruther, is not only a drawing 
of this nest, but another of an equally curious fabnca- 
* General History, vol. vli. p. 79. 
