Identifier: polartropicalwor00hartuoft (find matches)
Title: The polar and tropical worlds : a description of man and nature in the polar and equatorial regions of the globe
Year: 1874 (1870s)
Authors: Hartwig, G. (Georg), 1813-1880 Guernsey, Alfred Hudson, 1824-1902
Subjects: Arctic peoples Natural history Antarctica Arctic regions Tropics
Publisher: Guelph, Ont. : J.W. Lyon
Contributing Library: Gerstein - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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no scruples about helpingitself to the produce of the gardens, whose owners are obliged to keep up a keenwatch if they expect to secure a fair share of tho crops. Lastly, in the bottom centre,is the nest of the Yellow capped Weaver (Ploceus icterocephalus). This nest is re-markable for the extreme neatness and compactness of its structure. The body of thenest is of seed-stems so closely interwoven that it can be handled, or even kicked likea foot-ball, without being destroyed. The interior is lined with layers of flat leaves,kept in place by their own elasticity, which afford a smooth, soft resting-place for theeggs and young birds. Parrots have so many points of resemblance to monkeys in their tastes and habits,that notwithstanding their different appearance, one might almost be tempted to callthem near relations. As the monkey never sets foot on the ground if he can help it,but springs from branch to branch of trees, so the parrot is rarely seen walking. His CGO THE TROPICAL WOULD.
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AFRICAN WEAVIKS PARROTS—MONKEYS. 661 fiigbt is rapid, but of short duration ; so that evidently neither the ground nor the airwas destined for his habitual abode. In climbing, however, he shows an uncommoncspertness and agility, unlike that of any other quadruped or bird, as the oro^an hechiefly uses for the purpose is his beak. He first seizes with his powerful mandiblesthe branch he intends to ascend, and then raises his body one foot after the other; or,if he happens to have a sweet nut in his bill which he is anxious to preserve, he presseshis lower mandible firmly upon the branch, and raises himself by the contraction of themuscles of his neck. On descending, he first bends his head, lays the back of his beakupon the branch, and while the extended neck supports the weight of the body, bringsdown one foot after the other. While accidentally walking on even ground, he alsofrequently uses his upper mandible as a kind of crutch, by fixing its point or its backupon the ground; for t

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