INSESSORES. 375 



It commences breeding very early, and rears at least three 

 broods a year. The nest is somewhat carelessly constructed 

 of leaves, grasses, wool, &c., and is of a domed form, Avith a 

 small hole for an entrance. But the most curious feature 

 connected with it is, that a small cup-shaped depression or 

 second nest, as it were, is frequently formed on the top or 

 side of the other, and which is said to be either the roosting- 

 place of the male, or wdiere he may sit in order to be in com- 

 pany with the female during the task of nidification. I have 

 myself found many of these double nests, but have not had 

 opportunities for satisfactorily ascertaining the use of the 

 upper one. The bird very readily resorts to the gardens of 

 the settler, and constructs its curious nest in any low shrub. 

 In Tasmania one of the trees most frequently selected for the 

 purpose is the prickly Mimosa : in Western Australia it is 

 suspended from the overhanging branches of the Xanthor- 

 rhcea, and in the district of the Upper Hunter upon the apple- 

 trees {AngophorcB). It varies very much in size. The eggs 

 are generally of a beautiful uniform flesh-colour, but occa- 

 sionally they are found sprinkled over with very minute specks 

 of reddish yellow, which in some instances form a zone at the 

 larger end : they are fom' or five in number, their medium 

 length being nine lines, and breadth six lines. 



This is one of the species to which the Bronze Cuckoo 

 {Clirysococcyx lucidus) delegates the task of rearing its young. 

 I have several times taken the egg of the Cuckoo from the 

 nest of this bird and also the young, in which latter case the 

 parasitical bird was the sole occupant. 



The song of the Geohasilem chrysorfhous is extremely pretty, 

 many of its notes closely resembling those of the Goldfinch of 

 Europe {Carduelis elegans). Its food consists of small coleo- 

 pterous and other kinds of insects. 



The sexes are alike in plumage, and may be thus de- 

 scribed : — 



Forehead black, with a spot of white at the tip of each 



