THE YELLOW-THROATED SERI CORN IS. 129 
mosses not only grow upon the trunks of decayed trees, but are 
often accumulated in large masses at the extremities of the 
drooping branches. These masses often become of sufficient 
size to admit of the bird constructing a nest in the centre of 
them, with so much art that it is impossible to distinguish it 
from any of the other pendulous masses in the vicinity. These 
bunches are frequently a yard in length, and in some places 
hang so near the ground as to strike the head of the explorer 
during his rambles; in others, they are placed high up on the 
trees, but only in such parts of the forest where there is an 
open space entirely shaded by overhanging foliage. As will be 
readily conceived, in whatever situations they are met with, they 
1 at all times form a remarkable and conspicuous feature in the 
landscape. 
4 Although the nest is constantly disturbed by the wind, and 
liable to be shaken when the tree is disturbed, so secure does the 
inmate consider itself from danger or intrusion of any kind, that 
I have frequently captured the female while sitting on her eggs, 
a feat that may always be accomplished by carefully placing the 
hand over the entrance — that is, if it can be detected, to effect 
which, no slight degree of close prying and examination is 
necessary. 
‘ The nest is formed of the inner bark of trees, intermingled 
with green moss, which soon vegetates; sometimes dried grasses 
and fibrous roots form part of the materials of which it is com- 
posed, and it is warmly lined with feathers. The eggs, which 
; are three in number, and much elongated in form, vary con- 
siderably in colour, the most constant tint being a clove-brown, 
freckled over the end with dark umber-brown, frequentiy assum- 
ing the form of a complete band or zone ; their medium length 
is one inch, and their breadth eight lines/ 
If the reader will bear in mind the remarkable shade of this 
and a few other nests, he will, see, in a future page, how wonderful 
is the resemblance between the pensile nests of birds and insects. 
Pensile birds do not always suspend their nests to the 
branches of trees, but in some instances choose exactly the 
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