244 



!VESTS AA'D EGGS OF AVSTHAUAN BIRDS. 



Observatinnn. — Tliis, the finest and largest of these dull-coloured but 

 interesting and active birds, inhabits the dense tropical scrubs of Queens- 

 land and New South Wales. I have observed it at home in both States, 

 taking many nests and eggs in the Big Scrab of the latter locality, 

 where the birds are numerous. Mr. Kendall Broadbent states that the 

 Yellow-breasted Scrub Wren finds its way as far south as Victoria, and 

 he often found it when shooting in Gippsland many years ago. He never 

 found it as far north as Cape York. Rockingham Bay seemed to be its 

 northern hmit. 



Here is a serene gully where every tree stem is decorated with moss 

 of different species, where the walking-stick palms wave their crowns in 

 contrast to the bright-gi'een erect crests of ferns, and where large semi- 

 transparent leaves, aloft of the stinging-tree, are backed up by the dark 

 thick foliage of bean-trees, all overshadowing here and there clear rocky 

 pools of water ! In such places do the Yellow-throated Scrub Wrens 

 love to hang out their golden-green nests composed of matted mosses. 



I can bear testimony to that part of Gould's statement which says that 

 the pear-shaped, perpendicular, mossy nests are exceedingly attractive when 

 observed hanging in the humid scmb. But the Sericornis does not 

 constmct its home within the mossy masses, but rather gathers the moss 

 and masses it into a wonderful and beautiful nest, which is hung out in 

 the " corridors " of the scrub, as if to attract the attention of passers-by, 

 or perhaps, more correctly speaking, made to assimilate the pendulous 

 mossy ornaments of the forest in oi-der to put the birds' natural enemies 

 " off the scent." (See illustration.) 



Repeating in part my technical description of the nest, it is decidedly 

 bulky (about 18 inches in circiunference at the broadest part) in com- 

 paiison with the size of the owner, and outwardly constiiicted of beautiful 

 string-like, golden-green moss, which covers a ply of wiry rootlets, then 

 comes a copious lining of feathers of various scrub birds. In one nest 

 I detected Cat, Regent, and .S.itin Birds', Brown and Wonga Pigeons' 

 and, I fancy. Lyre Birds' feathers. 



Gould has accurately described the eggs, which, as a field naturalist 

 once aptly mentioned, resemble ripe acorns. 



Dr. Ramsay, in 1866, took both nests and eggs in the same district 

 (zoologically speaking) where I obtained mine. 



Speaking of the Yellow-throated and Large-billed Scrub Wrens in 

 Southern Queensland, where they are called " Devil Birds," Mr. H. Lau 

 says:- — -"There are two (major and minor), both inhabitants of the dense 

 sea-coast scrubs, where the birds may be met ^vitb in the darkest places 

 alongside moimtain streams, where neither sun nor moon can penetrate 

 (hence the name ' Devil Birds '). 



" In many cases the nests hang within reach of man. Bats like such 

 abodes, taking the desei'ted summer dwellings for their winter quarters." 



Breeding months August to December or January, the chief month 

 for fresh eggs being probably November. 



