GROSBEAK. 
483 
less sociable, suspend their dwellings from the 
branches : among the latter, the Abyssinian gros- 
beak is one of the most skilful, and proves himself 
an architect of no inferior merit. The nest which 
this bird constructs is nearly of a pyramidal shape, 
and he is always careful to suspend it over the sur- 
face of water, from the end of a small branch ; the 
entry is in the side, and generally faces the east ; 
a partition of half its height divides the body of the 
nest into two compartments ; the bird enters the 
first, and creeping along descends into the second, 
chamber, which is designed for the eggs. This 
double construction effectually secures the brood 
against the rain, which in Abyssinia pours down in 
torrents, and lasts several months. The foresight 
of the grosbeak is equally admirable in the manner 
of suspending his nest, which renders it completely 
inaccessible to both the mischievous and the noxious 
animals with which Abyssinia abounds. 
We shall, in this place, notice another species, 
the loxia Bengalensis , Linn, for the sake of the in- 
teresting account which the late sir William Jones 
has given of its manners. 
This bird,” says sir William, “ is exceedingly 
common in Hindostan: he is astonishingly sensible, 
faithful, and docile ; never voluntarily deserting the 
place where his young are hatched, but not averse, 
like most other birds, to the society of mankind, 
and easily taught to perch on the hand of his 
master. In a state of nature he generally builds 
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