CHAPTER XII.

PENSILE BIRDS (CONTINUED).

Australian Pensiles-The YELLOW-THROATED SERICORNIS-Its habits-Singular position for its nest-Conscious security-The ROCK WARBLER-Shape and locality of its nest-The YELLOW-TAILED ACANTHIZA-Its colour and songSupplementary nests-The PINC-PINC and its home-Supposed use of the supplementary nest-The SINGING HONEY-EATER and its nest-The myall or weeping acacia-Various materials-The LUNULATED HONEY-EATER-A new material-The PAINTED HONEY-EATER, its habits and nest-The art of preservation-Nests and their branches-The colour of eggs-The WHITE-THROATED HONEY-EATER and its habits-Its curious nest-Locality of the nest-The GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN, and the resemblance of its nest to those of the Honey-Eater-The SWALLOW DICEUM-Its song and beauty of its plumageThe nest, its materials, form, and position-The MALURUS and its nest-The HAMMOCK BIRD-Singular method of suspending the nest-The WHITE-Shafted FANTAIL-Strange form of the nest-The appendage or tail of the nest.

SOME very remarkable instances of pensile birds' nests are found in Australia, and for many of them we are indebted to the patient and careful research of Mr. J. Gould, from whose skilful works on ornithology several illustrations have been, by permission, copied.

A very curious instance is found in the nest of the Yellowthroated Sericornis (Sericornis citreogularis), a rather pretty, but not a striking bird. The general colour is simple brown, and, as its name imparts, the throat is of a citron-yellow. The only remarkable point in the colour, beside the yellow throat, is a rather large patch of black, which envelops the eye and passes down each side of the neck, nearly as far as the shoulders. It is the largest of its genus, and, although not rare, is seldom seen except by those who know where to look for it, as it is scarcely ever observed on the wing, but remains among the thick underwood, flitting occasionally between the branches, but mostly remaining on the ground, where it pecks about in search of the insects on which it feeds.

The reason for its mention in this work is the singular

structure of its nest, which is described by Mr. Gould in the following words :

"One of the most interesting points connected with the history of this species is the situation chosen for its nest.

All those who have rambled in the Australian forests must have observed that, in their more dense and humid parts, an atmosphere peculiarly adapted for the rapid and abundant growth of mosses of various kinds is generated, and that these mosses not only grow upon the trunks of decayed trees, but are often accumulated in large masses at the extremities of the drooping branches. These masses often become of sufficient size to admit of the bird constructing a nest in the centre of them,

with so much art that it is impossible to distinguish it from any of the other pendulous masses in the vicinity. These bunches are frequently a yard in length, and in some places hang so near the ground as to strike the head of the explorer during his rambles; in others, they are placed high up on the trees, but only in such parts of the forest where there is an open space entirely shaded by overhanging foliage. As will be readily conceived, in whatever situations they are met with, they at all times form a remarkable and conspicuous feature in the landscape.

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Although the nest is constantly disturbed by the wind, and liable to be shaken when the tree is disturbed, so secure does the inmate consider itself from danger or intrusion of any kind, that I have frequently captured the female while sitting on her eggs, a feat that may always be accomplished by carefully placing the hand over the entrance-that is, if it can be detected, to effect which, no slight degree of close prying and examination is

necessary.

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The nest is formed of the inner bark of trees, intermingled with green moss, which soon vegetates; sometimes dried grasses and fibrous roots form part of the materials of which it is composed, and it is warmly lined with feathers. The eggs, which are three in number, and much elongated in form, vary considerably in colour, the most constant tint being a clove-brown, freckled over the end with dark umber-brown, frequently assuming the form of a complete band or zone; their medium length is one inch, and their breadth eight lines."

If the reader will bear in mind the remarkable shape of this and a few other nests, he will see, in a future page, how wonderful is the resemblance between the pensile nests of birds and insects.

PENSILE birds do not always suspend their nests to the branches of trees, but in some instances choose exactly the localities which appear to be the most unsuited for the purpose. Still keeping to Australia, we may find a most wonderful example of a pensile nest near mountain courses. The bird which makes it is called, indifferently, the ROCK WARBLER, or the CATARACT BIRD (Origma rubricata), because it is always found where water-courses rush through rocky ground. So

attached is the bird to these localities, that it is never seen in the forest, nor ever has been observed to perch upon a branch. The generic name, Origma, is derived from a Greek word, signifying a rock or a precipice, and is more appropriate than are many

scientific titles.

It is a small bird, no larger than our sparrow, and is soberly coloured, the general hue being brown, relieved by a dull red on the breast, something like that of the female robin. It has a melodious though not very powerful note; but its chief claims to admiration are founded upon the extraordinary nest which it builds. In general shape this nest somewhat resembles a claret jug without a handle, having a long, slender neck and a globular and suddenly-rounded bulb.

It is suspended from the rocks in sheltered places, and wherever an overhanging ledge of rock affords protection from the elements, there the strange nests may be found. Just as the martins take a fancy to some favoured spot, and build whole rows of nests on one side of some particular house, utterly disdaining neighbouring houses, which, to all appearance, afford exactly the same advantages, so do the Rock Warblers affect some particular rock, and hang their nests by dozens in close. proximity to each other. The material of the nest is the long moss which is plentiful in the country; and, as may be seen from the illustration, the entrance is near the centre of the rounded bulb. In consequence of the material of which the nest is constructed, it is very rough on the exterior, though smooth and comfortable enough within.

AUSTRALIA certainly produces some of the most singular objects in the world. Among the many varieties of birds' nests which are found in this region, there is one of a very curious form, resembling very greatly a common cottage loaf, and being in fact a double nest, one being placed upon the other.

The bird which makes this nest is termed the YELLOW-TAILED ACANTHIZA (Acanthiza chrysorrhea), and is not uncommon in different parts of Australasia. It is rather a neat-looking bird, the colours being beautifully blended together. The back and upper parts are greenish, like the hue of our common wood-wren, and below it is pale yellow, while there is a patch of bright golden yellow at the base of the tail. As if to contradict the popular

idea that the birds of Australia have no song, the Yellow-tailed Acanthiza sings a bright, cheerful note, very like that of the goldfinch, so that it is in all points a pleasing little bird.

It is seldom seen on the wing, or, at all events, seldom flies to any distance, as it prefers to remain on the ground, or in the bush, and when disturbed will fly for a few yards and then settle again. It is generally found in small flocks, consisting of six or ten in number, and as it is by no means timid, will allow itself to be approached closely before it takes alarm.

The nest is a very remarkable structure. In most cases it is formed as has just been mentioned, a little nest being stuck on the large one. The materials of which it is made are grass. wood, and leaves, and the structure is rather loose and careless. Generally it is suspended from the delicate mimosa branches, especially in Van Diemen's Land; but when it builds in gardens, as is often the case, it mostly prefers a low shrub for that purpose. Unfortunately for the bird, the bronze cuckoo has a predilection for its nest, and lays its eggs therein. Whenever this is the case, the parasitic bird takes entire possession of the nest, and no other young are found in it.

The supplementary nest is not invariably present, and both the size and shape are extremely variable. The reader may perhaps remember that the PINC-PINC of Africa (Drymoica textrix) has a similar custom, constructing a supplementary roosting-place upon the nest. The home of the Pinc-pine is of much firmer structure than that of the Yellow-tailed Acanthiza, being made of vegetable fibres, interwoven so strongly and elaborately that a thick, felt-like substance is produced. The entrance to the nest is formed in a tubular shape, and projects for an inch or two, so as to look like a spout, and near the entrance is constructed a rounded projection on which a bird can repose.

Some persons think that the male bird uses this perch, and that he posts himself by the entrance in order to act as a sentry and to keep guard over the inmates. It is more probable however, that the projection is used, not so much as a restingplace for the male, although he may possibly take a fancy for sitting in the fresh air rather than in the nest, as a perch on which the bird can settle before it passes into the tubular entrance. This supposition is borne out by the fact that there are mostly several of these perches on each nest, so that the