OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. 81 



the early morning when the dew was still upon the grass. 

 During this process one in a family will usually expand its 

 body feathers and become almost spherical in appearance ; 

 another will seem to rest lazily as much upon its tail as upon 

 its feet, while the wings he Hmp and disarranged. TJnder such 

 circumstances the young show no fear, timidity being 

 exhibited, nevertheless, by their experienced parents. 



The staple articles of their diet seem to be grasshoppers, 

 hard- winged insects, and larvae. 



The persistent observations of my correspondent and friend, 

 Mr. Geo. Graham, a skilled keeper of Wrens in captivity, has 

 proved that they are capable of disposing of 80 larvae of the 

 Cockchafer Beetle {Anoplognathous) daily for months in 

 succession. 



As to food supphed — quantity, preference, &c. — it was 

 noted that from July to the 1st January grubs, with a little 

 finely-chopped meat, bread crumbs, small beetles, and cater- 

 pillars, formed the bulk of the food. It generally managed 

 to dispose of 60 grubs, about a dozen small insects, and a 

 sm.all proportion of bread and meat, sufficient to equal the 

 bulk of 100 grubs, as named above, per day. 



From 1st January to 1st April grasshoppers formed the 

 staple, varied with March flies and cockroaches. The quan- 

 tity devoured amounts to about the same as with the grubs — 

 namely, 100 per day — and the immature form of the great 

 green grasshopper is preferred to all other kinds of food given 

 to it. 



Moths, March flies, and small winged insects are greedily 

 devoured — in fact, it can stow away four large "blowflies" 

 on a fairly full stomach ! 



At the commencement of the breeding season the males 

 show the greatest activity and pugnacity ; as many as five 

 have been seen engaged in a fierce encounter to determine 

 who should claim a certain female as mate. 



