CURIOUS NESTS . 
375 
half as large again as others, and some being made almost 
entirely of large pieces of leaf, and others chiefly of stems, 
among which the leaf-fragments are closely pressed. 
We will now proceed to cut open one of these nests in order 
to view its structure. 
The outer covering is remarkably close, stiff, and tough, 
although very thin, and crackles like parchment as the 
scissors pass through it. When cut, it is found to be almost 
distinct from the nest which it covers, being only attached to 
the projecting ends of the leaf-stems, and so slightly fastened 
to them that it can be lifted off without injury, only leaving a 
few threads adherent to the stem. 
We now turn back the severed flap, and the body of the nest 
comes to view. In the dry state the leaf-stems are so hard 
that they require a strong and sharp pair of scissors to pene- 
trate them. I nearly broke a moderately fine pair of scissors 
in a vain endeavour to open the nest. Even in their fresh state 
the stems must have been tolerably strong, and the architect 
must have possessed a powerful pair of jaws for their severance. 
The stems are crossed upon each other, much as confectioners 
cross sticks of chocolate, so that the ends slightly protrude, 
and a hollow space is left in the centre. Pressed tightly among 
the sticks are fragments of leaves, not torn from the small 
delicate portions, but cut completely through the largest 
nervures, and seeming, indeed, as if the strongest parts of the 
leaves were intentionally selected. In the specimens now before 
me the upper surface of the leaf is always towards the exterior 
of the nest. 
We now take a very strong and sharp pair of scissors, push 
one point into the nest, and carefully cut a flap corresponding 
with the severed portion of the silken cover. The flap is easily 
turned back, and discloses a smooth and silken lining, much 
resembling that which forms the cover. The lining, however, 
is softer than the cover, and does not crackle when bent. Thus 
we see that the nest consists of four distinct layers : first, the 
soft silken lining, then a cover of leaf-fragments, then a pro- 
