As the food of the Harvest-mouse consists greatly of insects, flies being especial favorites, it is evident that great agility is needed. In order to show the active character of the quadruped, one of the Harvest-mice is represented in the act of climbing toward a fly, on which it is about to pounce. Under such circumstances its leap is remarkably swift, and its aim is as accurate as that of the swallow. Even in captivity it has been known to take flies from the hand of its owner, and to leap along the wires of its cage as smartly as if it were trying to capture an insect that

could escape.

The Harvest-mouse is tolerably prolific, and in the airy cradle may sometimes be seen as many as eight young mice, all packed together like herrings in a barrel.

THERE is another well-known British mammal which, at all events at one season of the year, may be classed among those creatures who build pensile nests. This is the common Squirrel; so plentiful in well-wooded districts, and so scarce where trees are few.

The Squirrel is an admirable nest-builder, though it can not lay claim to the exquisite neatness which distinguishes the harvest-mouse. As is well known, the Squirrel constructs two kinds of nests, or "cages," as they are popularly called, one being its winter home, wherein it can remain in a state of hibernation, and the other its summer residence. These two nests are as different as a town mansion and a shooting-box, the former being strong, thick-walled, sheltered, and warm, and the other light and airy. The winter cage is almost invariably placed in the fork of some tree, generally where two branches start from the trunk. It is well concealed by the boughs on which it rests, and which serve also as a shelter from the wind. The summer cage, on the contrary, is comparatively frail, and is placed nearly at the extremity of slender boughs, which bend with its weight, and cause the airy cradle to rock and dance with every gust of wind.

As if conscious of the impregnable situation which it has chosen, the squirrel takes no pains to conceal the summer cage, but builds it so openly that it can be seen from a considerable distance; whereas the winter home requires a practiced eye to detect it. So confident is the animal in the strength of its position, that it can scarcely be induced to leave the nest, and will sit there in spite of shouts and stones, provided that the missiles

do not actually strike the nest. A well-aimed stone will gener- . ally alarm the cunning little animal, and cause it to make one of its rapid rushes to the top of the tree. The materials of the Squirrel's cage are very similar to those of an ordinary bird'snest, consisting of twigs, leaves, moss, and other vegetable substances. Its structure is tolerably compact, though it will not endure rough handling without being injured.

In this aerial nest the young squirrels are born, making their appearance in the middle of summer, and remaining with their mother until the following spring. There are generally three or four young; and though the nest appears to be so slight, it is capable of sustaining the united weight of young and parents. The Squirrel does not seem to make more nests than can be avoided, and, like many nest-builders, inhabits the same domicile year after year, until it is quite unfit for occupation. Should the nest be assailed while the young are still helpless, the mother takes them in her mouth one by one, leaps away with them, and deposits them in some place of safety. The materials of which the nest are made are grass, moss, and leaves, together with a few twigs, and the shape is nearly spherical. The winter cage, however, is most irregular in form, being accommodated to the space between the boughs in which it is built, and is very thick and

warm.

The amount of materials collected for this purpose is surpris ing. All of them are large and thick-walled, but in some, which are probably old nests, with the accumulation of years upon them, the mass of dried vegetable substances is almost incredible. I have looked into many a winter cage, and on one occasion, when the nest was so hidden that those below could hardly see it, I pulled out whole armfuls of moss, leaves, and grass, and threw them to the ground, where they made a heap like a haycock. The spectators said it looked like the conjuror's trick of produc ing shawls, flowers, and goblets out of an empty hat. The nest had been deserted for some time, and all the materials were matted together by repeated rains.

CHAPTER XI.

PENSILE BIRDS.

WEAVER BIRDS and their general Habits.-RED-BILLED WEAVER BIRD.-Its bovine Friends.-Its Use to the Buffalo.-Other parasitic Birds.-The SPOTTEDBACKED WEAVER BIRD.--Its Nest and variable Method of Construction.-The MAHALI WEAVER BIRD.-Shape of the Nest.-Singular Defense.-Theories respecting the Structure.-Habits of the Bird.-Remarkable Nests of Weavers.Account of Weavers engaged in Nest-building.-Very curious Contrivance.The GOLD-CAPPED WEAVER.-Structure and Situation of the Nest.-The TAHA WEAVER BIRD.-Locality selected for its Nest.-Destructiveness to Crops.-The PALM SWIFT.-Its general Habits.-The Nest and its variable Structure.-Silkcotton.-The TAILOR BIRD.-Antiquity of Handicrafts.-Structure of the Nest. -The FAN-TAILED WARBLER.-Singular Method of fixing its Nest.-The PENDULINE TITMOUSE.-Its Habits and Food.-Remarkable Nest and its Form.

ALTHOUGH the majority of nest-making birds may be called Weavers, there is one family to which the name is par excellence and with justice applied. These are the remarkable birds which are grouped together under the name of Ploceida, all being inhabitants of the hot portions of the Old World, such as Asia and Africa. The last-mentioned continent is peculiarly rich in Weaver birds, as may be seen from a glance at the plate which accompanies this description, on which are shown a number of species, together with their nests.

For the most part, the Weaver Birds suspend their nests to the ends of twigs, small branches, drooping parasites, palm-leaves, or reeds, and many species always hang their nests over water, and at no very great height above its surface. The object of this curious locality is evidently that the eggs and young should be saved from the innumerable monkeys that swarm in the forests, and whose filching paws would rob many a poor bird of its young brood. As, however, the branches are very slender, the weight of the monkey, however small the animal may be, is more than sufficient to immerse the would-be thief in the water, and so to put a stop to his marauding propensities. It is well known that the monkey race are very fond of a little bird, mouse, or egg, and that they have such a predilection for blood, that they will snatch the feathers out of parrots' tails, in order to suck the raw and bleeding quills.

Snakes, too, also inveterate nest-robbers, some of them living almost exclusively on young birds and eggs, are effectually debarred from entering the nests, so that the parent birds need not trouble themselves about either foe. Although they may repose in perfect safety, undismayed by the approach of either snake or monkey, they never can see one of their enemies without scolding at it, screaming hoarsely, shooting close to its body, and, if possible, indulging in a passing peck. Such a scene is depicted in the illustration, where Weaver Birds of several species have united in their attacks upon a monkey that is endeavoring to rob a nest, and has met with a suitable fate.

We will now proceed to examine the several species, together with their nests and general habits.

OUR first example of the African Weavers is the RED-BILLED WEAVER BIRD, one of the most plentiful of its kind. Its scientific name is Textor erythrorhynchus, and it is remarkable for attending the buffaloes wherever they go. Should the buffalo be driven from any locality, as is often the case when civilization begins to make its mark on a country, the Red-billed Weaver Bird also disappears, and is only to be found in those parts of the land where its huge associate can live in security.

The reason for this peculiarity is, that the bird finds the greater part of its food upon the buffalo, catching and devouring the various parasites and insects which always accompany these animals. Wherever the buffalo exists, there the Weaver Bird may be seen, flitting about the animal as unconcernedly as if it were carved out of wood, perching on its head and pecking among the hair, settling on the massive horns and leaping at passing flies, while ever and anon it makes a dash along the back, digs away at the thick hide, and presently sits quietly on the buffalo, eating something which it has just secured.

The buffalo has very good reason to encourage the presence of its feathered allies, for not only do they free it from the troublesome insects, but they are always vigilant, and serve to detect danger. As soon as the bird perceives, or fancies that it perceives, any thing that is suspicious, it ceases from feeding, and looks anxiously about. Should its suspicions prove correct, the bird flies in the air with the peculiar whirring sound that is indicative of danger, and which is known to the buffalo as well as to itself. As soon as the signal of danger is thus given, the buffalo dashes