NEST BUILDING. 
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construction of the nest are always greatly indicative of 
the habits and mode of life of the builder. Thus the eyrie 
of the Eagle, or of the Peregrine Falcon, placed on the 
summit of some gigantic monarch of the forest, or rocky 
precipice open to view, resembles a royal abode or 
knightly castle. The nest of the Sparrowhawk, concealed 
from sight in the centre of some bushy tree, on the 
contrary, much more resembles some thiefs hiding- 
place. The Wren’s large cosy nest, built of moss and 
often snugly situated amongst it, is quite a homely little 
warbler’s house. The broad floating nests of the Grebes 
and Waterhens may be said to resemble ships at anchor. 
The nests of the Bee-eaters, Swallows, and Weaver- 
birds, who breed in colonies, some in holes in banks, 
some against walls, or in the crevices of old buildings ; 
and others, again, forming one gigantic structure for a 
whole community, are like veritable towns, inhabited by 
one class of people. The nests almost contiguous, and 
breeding-holes of different species of Sea-fowl, bear a 
great similitude to the well-watched domiciles of rightly- 
ordered and well-governed states. 
Almost every bird has a predilection for some particular 
locality; and one may well say that every place, high or 
low, on the water or on land, in the forest or in the field, 
has its especial admirers. The stronger birds are too 
proud to conceal their nests, and thus choose high open 
localities. The weaker, on the contrary, eagerly seek to 
keep prying eyes from discovering the home of their 
holiest affections, and make use of every possible shift 
and stratagem to attain their end. If by some accident 
one of these nests is placed in an exposed situation, it is 
usually rendered almost invisible by its form and the 
material of which if is constructed, which either hide it 
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