BIRDS. 
353 
Nature, “ my little prisoners cannot make excursions 
for the necessary materials to build their nests. I, 
therefore, take care to supply them with every 
thing I imagine can be agreeable to them, and am 
curious to observe what composes those nests the 
children bring me from all parts : accordingly I 
throw into the aviary sprigs of dry wood, shivers 
of bark, and dry leaves, hay, straw, moss, down, 
wool, silk, spiders-webs, feathers, and a hundred 
other little materials that are all useful in the nests. 
You would smile to see the inhabitants come to 
traffic at this fair ; one wants a bit of moss, another 
has occasion for a feather, a third cannot do with- 
out a straw ; you will see two outbidding one an- 
other for a lock of wool, and this sometimes causes 
great quarrels : however, the difference is commonly 
adjusted, and each carries what she can to the nest.” 
Different species of birds build their nests in dif- 
ferent situations ; one kind will occupy the tops of 
trees, while another chooses to settle on the ground, 
under a canopy of grass : but, wherever they dis- 
pose themselves, they are always accommodated 
with a shelter, and either make choice of herbs, or a 
shady branch, or a double roof of leaves, down the 
slope of which the rain trickles, without entering 
into the little opening of the nest that lies concealed 
below. The nest is raised on more solid materials, 
that strengthen it with a foundation ; for which 
purpose they make use of thorns, seeds, thick hay, 
and compact moss. On this first lay, that seems 
very shapeless, they spread and fold in a round, all 
2 A 
VOL. I. 
