68 Long-failed Grass fine lies. 



but a little " fluff " was still on some of its feathers, principally 

 oi its head, which gave it a babyish appearance. It flew 

 strongly and avoided obstacles, and was piloted about by its 

 parents, who appeared very proud and excited. The youngster's 

 cpll-note is more plaintive in tone, but similar to the call-note 

 of a Common Bullfinch. The bird returned to its nest again 

 during' the afternoon. 



August 23rd: Two young" out flying' this morning', and 

 s1ill others being fed in the nest. 



August 24th : Three young out this morning and 

 returned to nest early in the afternoon. 



August 25th : Five young came out this morning, all 

 strong on the w'ing, and went back again as before described. 

 Saw one of these youngsters drink on the 26th, wdien they 

 were all out again. 



August 28th : Four young Longtails feeding on ground 

 with parents, the parents also feeding them at intervals. The 

 young are growing well and their tails appear to be i^^ to 2ins. 

 in length. I had observed yesterday that a nest was being 

 built in a small spruce tree. I now noted that it belonged to 

 the old Longtails; it w-as built of hay and not yet properly domed. 



August 29th : This evening all the young roosted in the 

 nest in the spruce tree with parents. On this day I took an 

 infertile egg from the old nest, thus noting that six eggs had 

 been the clutch of the third and successful nest. 



I will now bring these notes to an end with a brief 

 summary of the principal events, etc. 



(i) Nesting Site. Either in holes or boxes or in natural 

 domed nests in bushes or trees, composed of grasses lined 

 with feathers. 



(2) Eggs. White, 3 to 6 in the clutch, taking about 15 

 days to hatch from the time the birds commence to sit. 



(3) Out of Nest. The young come out of nest at about 

 3 weeks old, but return during the afternoon to roost, for 

 seme time. 



(4) Food. Insects are necessary to rear the young 

 successfully, together with their ordinary diet. The young feed 

 and drink for themselves within a week of leaving the nest, but 

 are still fed by their parents up to about seven weeks old. The 



