The Lincoln County herald., 1870-04-14
BIRDS or SIA N.
LETTER FROM A MISSIONARY.

Deur Children. l want 10 tell you
about a pcculiar kind Of bisd.
Shading our south vcrandah there is q
largo tree, reminding me Of osr largest
sppie trees at home. 1t bears q small,
eour fruit, something like crab apple.
A few weeks ago noticed curious
nest hanging from one of the highest
branches, and then, for the first time,
saw several birds in and about the tree
They are little large. than our sparrows
At home. and look much like them, ex-
eept that the male bird has bright yel-
low crown. think they have no cong.
suless it is proper to call the clipper OF
our chipping sparrows a song. The
number of nests soon increased, until
now there is o little COLONY Of eleven
sosey homes.
As I sit here on the verandah, this dc
Rshsful afternoon, these birds are com.
ing snd going, busily as bees sbou'
hive. There, one is just sailing down to
the long grass on the opposite side Of the
canal. See, he splits of a long strip and
aies back with it in his beax. Another
has lost flown to that tall coco nut palm
and is splitting of strip from one of
che long, tough leaves. But as We haScn't
fine to watch the whole process, | must
tell you row they make thes" beautiful
''homcs without hands"
First, they twist these pieces Of grass
or palm leaf around the end Of twig,
snd then weave in piece after piece, very
sompactly, shaping it something like a
Bell or the top Of conical tent. When
they have extended it down Eve or six
iuches, IL looks quite like bell, and is
three or four inches in diameter inside.
Then they build across the middle o
bar Of grass, twisting and weaving in the
ls,le ssrips till it looks like plinnt
piece Of rope. On one side Of this bar
vhey make the bottom Of the nest, which
Is shout the size Of small teacup inside.
The other side of the bar they extend
down, making tube tive or three inches
IN diameter and nearly u foot in length
IN the meantime they continually add TO
the outside, making it larger in every
direction. They build their nests in Che
rainy season, and when they are finished
they are so close and thick that tile lon
cest rains cannot affect them, and the
little birds are as safe ss you are wheI
al nicely tucked up in bed, you love te
hear the rain dash against the window
for you know it cannot reach you. Th
hong neck is to protect the birds from
sheir enemies, the sna.es.
y thoughtlcss Chinese boy took dow
MO Of the nests one day, and I have on
Of them in my study. will measure
for you. II is two feet long, includsn
the neck, which is ten inches long on
three inches in diameter. Around th
hrgest part il measures one SOC. 81
inches. .
But there IL another curious fact. Son
Of the nests are not finished with bo
tom and neck they have only the b'
sctoss the bellshaped Aest. This is u
Dogch for the male bird. Hesc he CT
rest while his mate cares for the eggs
tho yewag birds, and here in the midst
xopicaI storms he ca1 swing in pe'fe
safety, for the rain cannot pcne'pa
kis we'll made thatch. never tire
watching thsss little colonists. who ZEE
ss iutspsstsd and chatter as pleasantly
81 many new housckcepers at q sewi
circle. g. y. 3. in Watchman and L
tecter.