484 
GROSBEAK. 
his nest on the highest tree that he can find, espe- 
cially on the palmyra, or on the Indian fig-tree ; 
and he prefers that which happens to overhang a 
well or a rivulet : he makes it of grass, which he 
weaves like cloth, and shapes like a large bottle, 
suspending it firmly on the branches, but so as to 
rock with the wind, and placing it with its entrance 
downwards to secure it from birds of prey. His 
nest usually consists of two or three chambers ; and 
it is popularly believed that he lights them with 
fire-flies, which he is said to catch alive at night, 
and confine with moist clay or with cow-dung. 
That such flies are often found in his nest, where 
pieces of cow-dung are also stuck, is indubitable ; 
but as their light could be of little use to him, it 
seems probable that he only feeds on them. 
u He may be taught with ease to fetch a piece 
of paper or any small thing that his master points 
out to him. It is an attested fact, that if a ring be 
dropped into a deep well, and a signal given to him, 
he will fly down with amazing celerity, catch the 
ring before it touches the water, and bring it up to 
his master with apparent exultation ; and it is con- 
fidently asserted, that if a house or any other place 
be shown to him once or twice, he will carry a note 
thither immediately, on a proper signal being 
made. One instance of his docility I can my- 
self mention with confidence, having often been an 
eye-witness to it. The young Hindoo women at 
Benares, and in other places, wear very thin plates 
