312 
BIRD-LIFE. 
the architect continues its labours, until, by degrees, a 
sufficient number of filaments have been threaded. Most 
of the boles are placed at the edge of the leaf, though 
some are bored through the middle : those threads which 
have been passed through the border serve principally to 
connect the edges of the leaves, and those threaded through 
the centre, to secure the other materials, which consist 
of fine grasses, pieces of leaves, and other soft vegetable 
matter: these are attached by the above-mentioned threads 
to the outside leaf, and bound together by further cotton 
filaments, until the whole forms a bag-shaped structure. 
The Spidercatchers ( Arachnocestra ), also natives of the 
same island, build a similar nest.” 
Other Weavers suspend their nests from the very end 
of horizontal branches. Of these we may first mention 
the Phacellodomus (. Phacelloclomus ), which use the 
least art and employ the coarsest materials: they are 
natives of South America. Their nest is a large long 
cylindrical bundle, composed of stieks, often almost as 
thick as one’s finger : these are woven and laid together 
in various directions, the points projecting outwards on 
all sides, so that one can scarcely lay hold of it. Various 
binding materials are used to hold this immense mass 
together. The entrance is at the lower end, and leads to 
a passage running the whole height of the nest, which 
latter is often three or more feet in length, until the upmost 
storey is reached, where the breeding-chamber is situated : 
this is lined with moss, dry grass, wool, &c. Each 
year the bird adds a new chamber; and, in course of 
time, the whole structure becomes so large as to form a 
conspicuous feature in the landscape, and to impart to 
it quite a peculiar character. 
The nests of the African and Indian Weaver-birds 
