BIRDS. 
35 / 
form a complete and comfortable apartment, pro- 
perly calculated to preserve the necessary warmth. 
Before we pass to the next stage, we must again 
return to Africa, and once more avail ourselves of 
Mr. Barrow’s information. This gentleman de- 
scribes a small bird of the loxia genus, Loxia soda , 
Lath. Ind. orn. which lives in a state of society with 
the rest of its species. These birds construct a whole 
republic of nests in one clump, and under one cover. 
Each nest, however, has a separate entrance on the 
under side, and has no communication with its 
neighbour from within. Sometimes one of these 
clumps of nests will extend a space of ten feet in 
diameter, and contain a population of several hun- 
dred individuals. 
“The industry of these birds,” says Mr. Patterson, 
“ seems almost equal to that of the bee. Through- 
out the day they appear busily employed in carry- 
ing a fine species of grass, which is the principal 
material they employ for the purpose of erecting 
this extraordinary work, as well as for additions and 
repairs. Though my short stay in the country was 
not sufficient to satisfy me by ocular proof, that 
they added to their nests as they annually increased 
in their numbers ; still from the many trees which 
I have seen borne down by the weight, and others 
that I have seen with their boughs completely cover- 
ed over, it would appear that this is really the case. 
When the tree, that is the support of this aerial 
city, is obliged to give way to the increase of weight, 
it is obvious that they are no longer protected, and 
