THE CAPOCIER. 
349 
animated strains. After his song was concluded, he began again 
to occupy himself with the work, and with fresh ardour carried 
such materials as his companion required, till the spirit of frolic 
again became buoyant, and a scene similar to that which I have 
described occurred. I have witnessed eight interruptions of this 
kind in one morning. How happy birds are ! They are cer- 
tainly the privileged creatures of nature, thus to work and sport 
alternately, as fancy prompts them. 
4 On the third day the birds began to rear the side walls of 
the nest, after having rendered the bottom compact by repeatedly 
pressing the materials with their breasts, and turning them- 
selves round upon them in all directions. They first formed a 
plain border, which they afterwards trimmed, and upon this they 
piled up tufts of cotton, which was fitted into the structure by 
beating and pressing it with their breasts and the shoulders of 
their wings, taking care to arrange any projecting corner with 
their beaks, so as to interlace it into the tissue, and to render it 
more firm. As the work proceeded, the contiguous branches of 
the bush were enveloped in the side walls, but without damaging 
the circular cavity of the interior. This part of the nest required 
many materials, so that I was quite astonished at the quantity 
which they used. 
4 On the seventh day their task was finished, and, being anxious 
to examine the interior, I determined to introduce my finger, 
when I felt an egg that had been probably laid that morning, 
for on the previous evening I could see that there was no egg in 
it, as it was not then quite covered in. 
4 This beautiful edifice, which was as white as snow, was nine 
inches in height on the outside, whilst in the inside it was not 
more than five. Its external form was very irregular, on account 
of the branches which it had been found necessary to enclose ; 
but the inside exactly resembled a pullet’s egg placed with the 
smaller end upwards. Its greatest diameter was five inches, 
and the smallest four. The entrance was two-thirds or more of 
the whole height as seen on the outside, but within it almost 
reached the arch of the ceiling above. ? 
One of the most remarkable points of this singularly beauti- 
