58 
TIIE CONDOR 
Vox,. XII 
the nest of the bird and that of the insects may often be found within three or four 
feet of each other. The protection, however, is not always so complete. A curi- 
ous variation of the situation occurs when a tree with leaves closely resembling 
those of the acacia is selected, and the nest is placed beside that of a species of ant, 
which at first sight would probably be mistaken for a hornet's nest, so similar are 
the two in appearance. (See Fig. 18 .) 
The nest of the Beardless Flycatcher, Camptostoma imberbe , is built in a 
small species of palmetto, in the upper angle formed by the juncture of a leaf-stem 
with the trunk. The trunk is very shaggy with the frayed margins of the fibrous 
sheaths, and the nest can be reacht without difficulty by any climbing animal. 
The danger from such enemies, however, is greatly reduced by the structure and 
material of the nest. Except for the soft cottony lining it is composed entirely of 
fibers obtained from the trunk of the palm, which are deftly interwoven with those 
fringing the sheaths, so that one might easily mistake the whole structure for a 
mere tangled tuft of loosened fibers. The small hole at the side by which the cav- 
ity is entered is turned directly away from the trunk and would not be likely to 
attract the notice of any reptile climbing it. 
Many other instances might be cited of similar adaptations in nests of this 
class, as in the case of the wood wrens, Pheugopedius , the Passerine genus 
Arrcmon , the Cotongine genus Pachyramphus , a small Rail, Creciscus ruber , etc. 
but further illustrations are unnecessary. 
Most of the protective adaptations thus far considered are characteristic of 
species inhabiting forests or dense thickets, where the principal enemies to be 
guarded against are reptiles or small mammals. In the more open sections of 
British Honduras, known as pine ridges — flat, grassy tracts with a scant sprinkling 
of low pines — the case is quite different. Here the chief enemies are jays, especial- 
ly Psilorhinus, hawks and probably vultures. Several of the common species in- 
habiting these localities have adopted a means of protection eminently suited to 
their circumstances. In studying the nesting habits of the bird fauna of the pine 
ridges, one of the first phenomena noticed is the tendency of several species to nest 
in close proximity to each other. The colonies thus established are composed of 
widely separated forms, mostly tanagers and flycatchers, which may be found nest- 
ing peacefully within a few yards of each other. If a number of the colonies are 
examined it will invariably be found that the nests of the other species are grouped 
about that of the splendid Derby Flycatcher, Pitangus. This bird is one of the 
most powerful and warlike, as it is one of the handsomest of the great Tyrannine 
group. It is never known, however, to molest weaker species, permitting them to 
make their nests undisturbed within a few yards of its own. 
Doubtless the courage and “magnanimity” of this species have caused it to be- 
come the unconscious protector of its weaker neighbors. The most common of 
these are the two tanagers, Tanagrci abbas and T. cana and the flycatchers, 
Myiozetetes simiZis, Legatus aibicoZZis, Elaenia niartinica subpagana , and even 
the large but weak and sluggish MegaryncZius. It is worthy of note that those 
forms that gather about Pitangus to nest are such as would be most likely to be- 
come the victims of hawks, jays, etc., both on account of their weakness and the 
exposure and conspicuousness of their nests. Many of the common pine ridge 
forms, for example, Tyrannus meZancJioZicus, and species of Myiarchus , do not 
regularly associate themselves with these little communities, for the obvious reason 
that a strong and pugnacious species like T. meiancZioZicus is amply able to de- 
fend its own, while those that nest in cavities of trees, like Myiarchus are beyond 
the reach of most of the common enemies. Whenever the location of one of these 
