358 
BIRDS. 
are under the necessity of building in other trees. 
One of these deserted nests I had the curiosity to 
break down, to inform myself of the internal struc- 
ture of it ; and found it equally ingenious with that 
of the external. There are many entrances, each 
of which forms a regular street, with nests on both 
sides, at about two inches distance from each other. 
The grass with which they build is called the Bosh- 
man’s grass ; and I believe the seed of it to be their 
principal food; though, on examining their nests, I 
found the wings and legs of different insects. From 
every appearance, the nest which I dissected had 
been inhabited for many years, and some parts 
were much more complete than others. This, 
therefore, I conceive to amount nearly to a proof, 
that the animals added to it at different times, as 
they found it necessary, from the increase of their 
family, or rather of the nation and community.” 
The annexed plate gives an accurate representation 
of a clump of these singular buildings. 
The dam, having so far completed her task, pro- 
ceeds to lay her eggs, the number of which varies 
according to the species : some have only two at a 
time; others four or five, and some eighteen. When 
the eggs are laid, the male and female brood over 
them by turns ; but this is generally the female’s 
province. And here we must unavoidably admire 
the impression of a superior reason that acts upon 
these little creatures. They have no certain know- 
ledge either of what their eggs contain, or of the 
necessity there is to sit on them, in order to hatch 
