338 



NESTS AND EGGS Of AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



of forested tracts ; and of tliis lively and most interesting bird it is odd 

 that Ooiild had no infonnation in particular of its nidification to 

 publish.* 



The nest is a most singular construction and a masterpiece of decep- 

 tion, so felted exteriorly with pieces of bark as to represent a portion of 

 the branch or fork where it is placed. The deception is also caiTied on 

 within, for the greyish-coloured eggs are a reflex of the colouration of 

 the nest and surroundings. I possess several of these nidiological 

 curiosities in my collection ; one in particular is suggestive of ci\'ili- 

 sation, inasmuch as the inside contains small pieces of printed 

 newspaper. It would be well to encovuage the little birds near civili- 

 sation, for they destroy the larvse of the codlin moth. 



It appears that more than a pair of birds aid in the construction of 

 a nest — a kind of family affair. Mr. C. C. Brittlebank paid particular 

 attention to this, and obsei-ved four birds building one nest and three 

 another. He also observed that as the young gi'ow in the nest the side 

 of the nest splits or is trampled down, leaving the clustered youngsters 

 resting upon the base only. Two nests taken season 1893 each contained 

 three eggs. Another season Mr. Brittlebank watched the young Tree 

 Runnere being fed by fom- birds (Ti-ee Runners) other than the supposed 

 parents. The month was February. Another proof of this family 

 affair is from Mr. W. P. Best, Branxholme, who in writing to me first 

 mentioned the subject. He says: — "In November la.st year (1887) 

 I found an Orange-winged Sittella's nest with young. Six birds were 

 feeding them ; I shot two, and they proved to be females which did not 

 appear to have laid that season. This is the only instance of a like 

 nature that has come under my notice. I have foimd other nests, but 

 only a pair of birds has been visible. I saw the six birds flying to and 

 from the nest, and watched it carefullv for some time to make .sure 

 I was not mistaken. A stoi-m blew down the tree before the voting 

 were fully fledged, so I could not complete mv observations." 



Breeding months September to Januaiv. 



I once watched a party of these Tree Runners near Ringwood, 

 hawking in the air for insects. The birds were in a small tree close to 

 me, running along the branches, some descending head downwards. 

 Every now and then a pretty bird would gracefully launch into mid-air 

 and poise on its fluttering orange-patched wings in the centre of a 

 revolving bunch of gnat-like insects. The many audible cracks from the 

 tiny bill testified how quickly the prey was being captured. As the bird 

 returned to the tree, another would take its place among the crowded 

 insects. 



• However he gives a beautiful figure of a Sittella's nest. There is also a 

 good engraving of a beautiful nest and egg of the Orange winged Sittella in 

 Dr Bennett's work. " Oatherings of a Naturalist in Australia " 



